JP2000302274A - Image reading and recording device and image recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To share a sheet discharge part with reading action and recording action by discharging recording sheets, already recorded, to a document discharge part and discharging sheet documents, already read, to a recording sheet discharge part and to effectively use the limited recording sheet discharge and document discharge parts. SOLUTION: This device has a first carrying passage for discharging documents D, already read, onto a recording sheet discharge tray 13a and a second carrying passage for discharging recording sheets P, already recorded, onto a document discharge tray 9. A control part 20 judges whether the first and second carrying passages are user or not in accordance with an action pattern in use and changes the action pattern in use corresponding to the history of the action pattern stored in a RAM.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a digital copying machine,
The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus, such as a printer or a facsimile, for recording input image information on a recording sheet, and an image reading / recording apparatus including an image reading unit for reading image information of a sheet-shaped document.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An image recording apparatus for recording input image information on a recording sheet, such as a conventional digital copying machine, printer, facsimile or the like, and an image reading / recording apparatus provided with an image reading section for reading image information of a sheet-shaped original document As described in Japanese Patent No. 2632412, there is an apparatus in which the front and back sides of a recording sheet that has been recorded on one side are reversed so that recording can be performed again. In addition, the publication discloses a proposal in which a discharge section of a recorded recording sheet can be selected.

[0003] Further, as described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 7-94302, there is an image recording apparatus in which a recorded recording sheet is stacked on an upper portion of an image recording apparatus.

[0004]

However, in the above-described conventional example, in the technique described in Japanese Patent No. 2632412, the reversal path of the recorded recording sheet is located between the image recording section and the recording sheet feeding section. In the case where a recording sheet jam occurs in this portion, it is difficult to confirm whether the recording sheet is staying in the reversing path of the recording sheet.

[0005] In the case of normal operation, it is difficult to confirm the status of the recording sheet in the reversing path, and it is difficult to understand how the recording operation is progressing. In addition, if a jammed recording sheet remains in the reversing path, a large-scale structure such as pulling out the entire reversing path may be necessary to remove the recording sheet, which may increase the cost of the apparatus. There is.

In addition, when the recording sheet discharge section provided inside the apparatus main body does not require confidentiality, there is a problem that it is inconvenient to confirm the presence or absence of the recording sheet and to remove the recorded recording sheet.

In the technique described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 7-94302, the recording sheets stacked on the upper portion of the apparatus main body are stacked face down with the recording surface facing down. In order to check the state, it is necessary to turn the recording sheet once to see the back surface (recording surface), which is inconvenient.

In addition, when trying to check the recording state of the recording sheet during the recording operation, there is a possibility that the stacked state of the recording sheet may be disturbed.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and
The purpose is to easily check the recorded image on the recording sheet after recording without touching the recording sheet with a simple configuration, and to perform double-sided recording of the recording sheet by reversing the front and back of the recording sheet Can be used as a recording sheet ejection section provided in the apparatus main body used for the apparatus, and even when the intermediate placement section is used as a recording sheet ejection section, it is possible to check the presence or absence of a recording sheet. It is easy to take out the recorded recording sheet, and further discharge the recorded recording sheet to the document discharge section, and discharge the read sheet-shaped document to the recording sheet discharge section, so that the sheet can be read and recorded by the operation. The discharge unit can be used in common, and the finite recording sheet discharge unit and document discharge unit can be used effectively without providing an additional sheet discharge unit. Is to St. provide automatic selection image reading and recording apparatus and an image recording apparatus capable adequately the application of the sheet discharge unit according to the ratio.

[0010]

A typical configuration of an image reading / recording apparatus according to the present invention for achieving the above object is an image reading section for reading image information of a sheet-shaped document, and an image reading section for reading the image information by the image reading section. A document discharge unit for discharging a sheet-shaped document whose information has been read, an image recording unit for recording an image on a recording sheet according to image information, and a recording sheet for discharging a recording sheet on which an image has been recorded by the image recording unit A discharge section, a first transport path for transporting the sheet-shaped document whose image information has been read by the image reading section to the recording sheet discharge section, and / or a recording sheet on which an image has been recorded by the image recording section; The first transport path and / or the second transport path according to a predetermined use operation pattern in which the apparatus is used as a reading operation or a recording operation, and a second transport path for transporting to the discharge unit. Determining means for determining whether or not to use a transport path; storage means for storing a history of a use operation pattern used as the reading operation or recording operation; and the use operation pattern according to the history of the use operation pattern And changing means for changing

Since the present invention is constructed as described above, the first transport path for transporting the sheet-form document from which the image information has been read by the image reading section to the recording sheet discharge section, and the image recording section by which the image is recorded. And / or a second transport path for transporting the recording sheet to the document discharge section, and the first transport path and the second transport path are determined by a predetermined use operation pattern in which the apparatus is used as a reading operation or a recording operation by the determination unit. And / or determine whether to use the second transport path,
The storage means stores the history of the used operation pattern used as the reading operation or the recording operation, and the changing means changes the used operation pattern in accordance with the history of the used operation pattern, thereby recording the data already recorded in the document discharge section. By discharging a sheet or discharging a read sheet-like document to the recording sheet discharge unit, the sheet discharge unit can be shared between the reading operation and the recording operation. The recording sheet discharge section and the document discharge section can be effectively used, and the use of the sheet discharge section can be appropriately and automatically selected according to the ratio of the types of operation patterns of the apparatus.

Further, in order to turn over the recording sheet on which an image is recorded by the image recording section and re-feed the recording sheet to the image recording section, an intermediate sheet for temporarily storing the recording sheet is provided. Mounting section, a re-feeding section for re-feeding the recording sheet placed on the intermediate mounting section, the recording sheet discharge section is disposed at the top of the apparatus body, and the intermediate mounting section In a case where the recording sheet is disposed immediately below the recording sheet discharge section and the document discharge section is disposed immediately above the recording sheet discharge section, recording on the recording sheet after recording without touching the recording sheet with a simple configuration. The image can be easily checked, and the intermediate placement section provided inside the apparatus main body used when performing the double-sided recording of the recording sheet by turning over the recording sheet can be used as a recording sheet discharging section. Completed, and the middle Removal of check of recorded recording sheet presence or absence of the recording sheet even when used as a discharge portion of it is easy.

A typical configuration of the image recording apparatus according to the present invention includes a communication section for receiving image information from a plurality of image communication apparatuses external to the apparatus, and a recording section according to the image information received by the communication section. An image recording unit that records an image on a sheet, and a plurality of recording sheet discharges that selectively discharge the recording sheet on which the image is recorded by the image recording unit according to a predetermined use operation pattern corresponding to the plurality of image communication devices. Unit, storage means for storing a history of use operation patterns corresponding to the plurality of image communication devices, and change means for changing the use operation pattern according to the history of use operation patterns. .

According to the above configuration, the history of the predetermined use operation pattern received from the plurality of image communication apparatuses external to the apparatus is stored in the storage means, and the change operation means uses the use operation pattern in accordance with the history of the use operation pattern. , A plurality of sheet discharge units can be appropriately and automatically selected according to the ratio of the types of operation patterns used by the apparatus.
Therefore, a finite number of recording sheet discharge units can be effectively used.

[0015]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention applied to a facsimile apparatus as an example of an image recording apparatus according to the present invention and an image reading / recording apparatus having the same. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a first embodiment of an image reading and recording apparatus provided with an image recording apparatus according to the present invention.
FIGS. 3 and 3 are cross-sectional explanatory views showing the structure of a first embodiment of an image reading and recording apparatus provided with an image recording apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a control system according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a configuration in which a slit is provided in the recording sheet discharge section, FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a lock mechanism of the recording sheet discharge section, and FIGS. 7A and 7B are diagrams. FIG. 8 is a plan view showing the operation of the lock mechanism of the recording sheet discharge unit, FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining the opening / closing control of the recording sheet discharge unit, FIG. 9 is a perspective view in which the front cover of the intermediate placement unit is opened and closed, and FIG. FIG. 11 is a perspective view in which the front cover of the intermediate placement unit is detachable, and FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating control when the front cover of the intermediate placement unit is formed separately from the recording sheet discharge unit.

FIG. 12 shows a sheet discharging section as a document discharging section,
FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a management table referred to when selecting from the recording sheet discharge unit and the intermediate placement unit. FIG. 13 selects the sheet discharge unit during the reading operation from the document discharge unit, the recording sheet discharge unit, and the intermediate placement unit. FIG. 14 is a flowchart for explaining control, and FIG. 14 is a flowchart for explaining control for selecting a sheet discharge unit during a recording operation from a document discharge unit, a recording sheet discharge unit, and an intermediate placement unit.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a history table of use operation patterns referred to when selecting a use operation pattern, FIG. 16 is a flowchart for explaining control for selecting a use operation pattern, and FIG. 17 is a use operation pattern. 9 is a flowchart for explaining control for determining a use operation pattern when selecting a.

First, a first embodiment of an image recording apparatus according to the present invention and an image reading and recording apparatus having the same will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, reference numeral 1 denotes an image reading and recording apparatus main body including a facsimile machine,
Reference numeral 2 denotes an original mounting table provided on the upper part of the apparatus main body 1 and capable of stacking a plurality of sheet-shaped originals D made of paper, synthetic resin, or the like.

Reference numeral 3 denotes an image reading unit for reading image information of the document D, and reference numeral 4 denotes an image recording apparatus main body comprising an electrophotographic printer using an LED (light emitting diode) array. Reference numeral 5 denotes an operation unit on which a display unit, input keys, and the like are arranged. Reference numeral 6 denotes a contact image sensor 8 that automatically separates and feeds the document D placed on the document table 2 and serves as an image reading unit. This is a document transport unit composed of an ADF (auto document feeder) that transports the document to the document feeder.

Reference numeral 7 denotes a document D transported by the document transport unit 6
Is a document pressing portion for pressing the document D onto the contact type image sensor 8, and 9 is a document discharge tray serving as a document discharge portion for placing and storing a document D read out of the apparatus by reading image information by the contact type image sensor 8. It is.

Reference numeral 10 denotes an LED head unit on which an LED (light emitting diode) array is mounted. Reference numeral 11 denotes an image recording unit that records an image on a recording sheet P made of paper, synthetic resin, or the like in accordance with image information.

Reference numeral 12 denotes a cassette feeding section for feeding the stacked and stored recording sheets P toward the image recording section 11;
Is provided on the upper part of the image recording apparatus main body 4 and has an image recording unit 11
Is a recording sheet discharge unit for placing and storing the recording sheet P on which an image is recorded and discharged outside the apparatus.

Reference numeral 14 denotes a cartridge cover which is opened when a recording cartridge 11e serving as image recording means provided in the image recording unit 11 is detached and attached. Reference numeral 15 denotes an ADF (automatic document feeder) which covers the original transporting unit 6 made of an automatic document feeder. It is a cover.

Reference numeral 16 denotes an outer document guide, 17 denotes an inner document guide, and 18 denotes a document pressing plate. Reference numeral 19 denotes a joint between the image reading unit 3 and the image recording apparatus main body 4, and reference numeral 20 denotes a control unit of the image reading and recording apparatus main body 1.

Reference numeral 21 denotes a sheet conveying unit for conveying the recording sheet P, and reference numeral 22 denotes a right cover. Reference numeral 23 denotes a transport direction switching unit for switching the transport direction of the recording sheet P, and reference numeral 24 denotes an electrophotographic photosensitive drum provided inside the recording cartridge 11e.
A resist transport unit that transports the recording sheet P in synchronization with the rotation of 11a.

Reference numeral 25 denotes an MP (multi-paper) feeding unit disposed inside the image recording apparatus main body 4. Reference numeral 26 denotes a recording sheet P on which an image is recorded by the image recording unit 11, which is turned over. This is a double-sided conveyance unit for re-feeding the recording sheet P to the image recording unit 11.

The operation of reading the image information of the document D by the image reading section 3 will be described below in detail. First, the documents D stacked on the document table 2 are separated and fed one by one by a separation roller 6b pressed against the separation pad 6a.

Next, a part of the outer document guide 16 and a part of the inner document guide 17 is formed by a separation conveyance roller 6d pressed against a separation conveyance roller 6c pressed by a pressing spring (not shown).
Convey turn sheet path.

Next, the original D is fed by a feed roller 6f pressed against a feed roller 6e pressed by a pressing spring (not shown).
The original D is conveyed to the contact image sensor 8, and the original D is pressed against the contact image sensor 8 by the elastic force of the original pressing portion 7 deforming the original press plate 18 to be brought into close contact with the original image D, and the image information of the original D is transferred. Reading is performed by the contact type image sensor 8.

Next, the reading and conveying roller 6 pressing the original D against the reading and conveying roller 6g pressed by a pressing spring (not shown).
h, and is further discharged to a document discharge tray 9 provided outside the apparatus by a discharge roller 6j pressed against a discharge roller 6i pressed by a pressing spring (not shown).

Further, the document D is transferred by the switching operation of the document flapper 6k in response to a signal from the control unit 20 so that the document D is transferred to the transport path 31.
The recording sheet can be conveyed to the recording sheet discharge section 13 via the. The document D is conveyed while being guided by an outer document guide 16, an inner document guide 17, and a document guide (not shown).

The document table 2 is provided with a slider 2a slidable in a direction (width direction of the document D) perpendicular to the direction in which the document D is conveyed.
The position of the document D in the width direction can be aligned by contacting and restricting both side edges of the document D placed thereon.

The document tray 2b of the document table 2 is rotatable upward about a hinge 2c as shown in FIG. The document discharge tray 9 is also rotatable upward about the hinge 9a as shown in FIG.

The contact-type image sensor 8 has an L
Light is emitted from the ED (light emitting diode) array to the image information surface of the document D, and the reflected light reflected from the image information surface is imaged on a sensor element by a lens such as a SELFOC lens (trade name) to form image information. To read.

The cassette feeding section 12 is disposed at the bottom of the apparatus main body 1. The recording sheet P loaded and accommodated in the sheet cassette 12a is biased upward by a middle plate 12b by a middle plate spring 12c. The corner at the tip and the upper surface thereof are regulated by the separation claw 12d.

When the feed roller 12e having a semicircular cross section rotates, the recording sheet P is separated one by one by a separation claw 12d (claw separation method), and then the cassette conveyance roller pair is separated.
It is transported to the resist transport unit 24 by 12f.

The leading end of the conveyed recording sheet P is detected by the registration sensor 24b after a predetermined time, and the leading end of the recording sheet P is not detected by the registration sensor 24b after a predetermined time from the start of feeding of the recording sheet P. In this case, it is determined that a jam has occurred, the recording operation is stopped, and the jam is displayed on the operation unit 5.

When the leading edge of the recording sheet P is detected by the registration sensor 24b a predetermined time after the feeding of the recording sheet P is started, the separated recording sheet P is continuously pressed and conveyed by the cassette conveying roller pair 12f. And is guided to the press-contact nip portion N of the registration roller pair 24a.

The rotation of the registration roller pair 24a is stopped when the leading end of the recording sheet P reaches the press-contact nip portion N of the registration roller pair 24a. A predetermined bending loop is formed on the recording sheet P by the sheet feeding operation of the recording sheet P being performed by the cassette conveying roller pair 12f after being abutted against the pressure contact nip portion N of the roller pair 24a and received. The skew of the recording sheet P is corrected by making the leading edge of the recording sheet P parallel by following the nip line of the press-contact nip portion N due to the reaction force.

Next, the registration roller pair 24a is driven to rotate at a predetermined control timing, and the recording sheet P is conveyed. The leading end position of the recording sheet P being conveyed is detected by the top sensor 24c, and the image output timing is adjusted so that the leading end of the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 11a and the leading end of the recording sheet P coincide with each other. It is transported between the charger 11f and the photosensitive drum 11a.

The toner image is recorded on the upper surface side of the recording sheets P stacked on the sheet cassette 12a. In this embodiment, the maximum stackable number of recording sheets P in the sheet cassette 12a is about 250 plain papers, and the sheet cassette 12a is configured to be pulled out in front of the apparatus main body 1 (front side in FIG. 1). (Front loading method).

In this embodiment, the image recording apparatus main body 4
A MP (multi-paper) feeding unit 25 is arranged inside the. The MP feeding unit 25 stacks the recording sheets P on the fixed MP tray 25e. MP middle plate 25c is MP middle plate spring 25
Although it is urged upward by d, the MP middle plate 25c is pushed down in a standby state by a cam (not shown).

When a signal for starting MP feeding is transmitted from the control unit 20 of the apparatus main body 1, a cam (not shown) is rotated, and the MP plate 25c is released by pressing down the MP plate 25c.
The recording sheets P stacked thereon are separated and fed one by one by an MP feed roller 25a and an MP separation pad 25b pressed against the MP feed roller 25a (friction piece separation method).

The operation after the recording sheet P is conveyed to the registration conveyance section 24 is the same as the case where the recording sheet P is fed from the cassette feeding section 12 described above. The toner image is M
Recording is performed on the lower surface side of the recording sheet P stacked on the P tray 25e. In the present embodiment, the maximum stackable number of the MP feeding unit 25 is about 100 plain papers. The MP feeding section 25 can also feed postcards and the like because of the friction piece separation method.

A second-stage cassette feeding unit (not shown) constructed similarly to the cassette feeding unit 12 can be separated and connected to the image reading / recording apparatus main body 1 as an option. The maximum number of sheets of the entire recording sheet P can be changed from about 350 sheets to about 600 sheets of plain paper. The recording sheet P fed from the second-stage cassette feeding unit is conveyed to the registration conveyance unit 24 via a sheet path 12g from the second-stage sheet cassette (not shown).

The image recording apparatus main body 4 causes a desired pixel of the one-dimensional LED array 10a of the LED head unit 10 to emit light based on an image signal output from the control section 20, and a lens such as a self-fox lens (trade name). Irradiates the photosensitive drum 11a through the lens unit 10b formed of the above to form image information on the surface of the photosensitive drum 11a, and forms the image information on the recording sheet P fed from the cassette feeding unit 12 and the like to the image recording unit 11. Transfer image information.

The photosensitive drum 11a is integrally incorporated in the recording cartridge 11e together with the primary charger 11b, the developing roller 11c, the cleaning blade 11d, and the like, and is configured to be detachable from the apparatus main body 1.

The surface of the photosensitive drum 11a is uniformly charged by the primary charger 11b, and when the surface is irradiated with light from the one-dimensional LED array 10a, an electrostatic latent image is formed.
The electrostatic latent image is visualized as a toner image by toner supplied from the developing roller 11c.

A transfer charger 11f is arranged around the photosensitive drum 11a of the image recording unit 11, and
a, the heat fixing unit 11 is located downstream of the recording sheet P in the conveying direction.
g is arranged. The toner image formed on the surface of the photoreceptor drum 11a is transferred to the recording sheet P by the operation of the transfer charger 11f, and is conveyed upward in FIG.

The recording sheet P conveyed along the sheet conveying section 21 is heated and pressurized by a heat fixing device 11g to be permanently fixed after being conveyed to a conveying direction switching section 23. The fixing sensor 11h disposed downstream of the thermal fixing unit 11g in the sheet conveyance direction is used for jam detection in the image recording unit 11, timing control, and the like.

The traveling direction of the recording sheet P in the transport direction switching section 23 is changed by the switching operation of the first discharge flapper 23a and the second discharge flapper 23b according to a signal from the control section 20, so that the recording sheet discharge section 13 is changed. The document is then conveyed to one of the two-sided conveyance unit 26 and the document discharge tray 9.

As described above, the recording sheet P conveyed to any one of the recording sheet discharge section 13, the double-sided conveyance section 26, and the document discharge tray 9 is stacked with the image information surface facing upward at any position. The stacked recording sheets P are monitored by the recording sheet discharge tray sensor 13c, the intermediate tray sensor 27a, and the document discharge tray sensor 9b, respectively, so that it can be seen that the recording sheets P on each tray have been removed. ing.

A cartridge cover 14 is provided on the apparatus main body 1 so as to be openable and closable. When the cartridge cover 14 is opened, the recording cartridge 11e can be pulled out of the apparatus main body 1 and replaced.

The cartridge cover 14 is provided with an interlock mechanism, so that the image recording apparatus main body 4 does not operate when the cartridge cover 14 is open or the recording cartridge 11e is not set in the apparatus main body 1. It has become. If a jam occurs on the recording sheet P during the recording operation, the cartridge cover 14
, The recording sheet P staying inside can be taken out.

Next, the double-sided recording operation will be described. During double-sided recording, image information on the back side of the recording sheet P is recorded first,
After that, the image information of the surface is recorded. The double-sided conveying unit 26 is disposed above the image recording apparatus main body 4 and
The recording sheet P that has passed through g is transported to the duplex transport unit 26 by switching the first discharge flapper 23a based on a control signal output from the control unit 20.

After the recording sheet P conveyed to the double-sided conveyance section 26 is subjected to heat and pressure by the heat fixing device 11g by the curl removing roller pair 28 to remove the curl of the recording sheet P, the intermediate mounting section Is temporarily stacked on the intermediate tray 27.

After the recording of the predetermined number of back side image information is completed, the front side image information is recorded on the recording sheets P stacked on the intermediate tray 27. A re-feed unit 29 for re-feeding the recording sheets P stacked on the intermediate tray 27 is provided below the curl removing roller pair 28.

The re-feeding section 29 is provided with a separation roller 29a which rotates in reverse to the transport belt 29b, and the uppermost recording sheet P loaded on the intermediate tray 27 is pulled in from the lower surface side by the transport belt 29b. Roller 29 for separating sheet P
It is pushed back by a and separated and fed in order from the bottom.

The recording sheet P fed from the re-feeding section 29 is conveyed by a pair of intermediate conveying rollers 30. When the registration sensor 24b detects the leading end of the recording sheet P within a predetermined time after the conveyance of the recording sheet P is started by the re-feeding unit 29, the intermediate conveyance roller pair 30 continues the press-contact conveyance by the intermediate conveyance roller pair 30. It is guided to the pressure contact nip portion N of the pair of registration rollers 24a.

Thereafter, the recording operation is continued as described above, and after the recording, the first discharge flapper 23a is switched to be stacked on the recording sheet discharge tray 13a of the recording sheet discharge section 13. The recording sheet discharge tray 13a can be rotated upward in FIG. 3 around the hinge 13b.

In the present embodiment, the first transport path for transporting the document D whose image information has been read by the image reading section 3 to the recording sheet discharge tray 13a provided immediately below the document discharge tray 9 is the document flapper 6k and the transport. A recording sheet P composed of a path 31 and the like and on which an image is recorded by the image recording unit 11
The second transport path for transporting the document to the document discharge tray 9 is constituted by the second discharge flapper 23b, the transport path 31, and the like.

As shown in FIG. 4, a control unit 20 for controlling the apparatus main body 1 is provided with a CPU (central processing unit) 20a.
An MPU (microprocessor) 20b, a ROM (read only memory) 20c for storing a control program of the MPU 20b, a RAM (random access memory) 20d used as a work area for various data processing and a temporary storage unit for image information, It has an image processing unit 20e that performs image scaling, resolution conversion, and the like.

The CPU 20a is provided with a calendar and a clock function having a known configuration. In the RAM 20d, an area for storing important system setting information such as one-touch key destination information and software switch information is a battery. Backup protects against accidents such as power outages.

As shown in FIG. 4, the control system of the apparatus main body 1 is as follows.
The above-described CPU 20a and the following components, ie, the operation unit 5, display unit 32, image reading unit 3, image recording unit 11, communication control unit 33, communication network 34, handset 35, external interface 36, and H
A DD (hard disk drive) 38 is connected via an interface.

The operation unit 5 has various key switches such as a numeric keypad 5a, a function key 5b, a one-touch key 5c, a start key 5d, and a stop key 5e.
The display unit 32 includes an LCD (liquid crystal display) 32a for displaying various messages, various LEDs (light emitting diodes) 32b for displaying a transmission mode and the like, and a tally lamp 32c for notifying a distant user of a communication state or occurrence of a failure. Have.

The image reading section 3 is a driving section 3 such as a reading motor.
a, a contact image sensor 8 as an image reading sensor, an image processing unit 3b for shading and binarizing the read image, various sensors 3c for detecting the document D, and the like.

The image recording unit 11 includes a driving unit 11 such as a recording motor.
i, a recording unit 11 for controlling the electrophotographic process by the LED head unit 10 and the recording cartridge 11e
j, an image processing unit 11 for performing smoothing of an image to be recorded, etc.
and various sensors 11m for detecting the recording sheet P and the like.

A communication control unit 33 for making a call, receiving a call, encoding image data, and the like includes a connection unit 33 including a communication modem (MODEM), an NCU (network control unit), and the like.
a connection network 33, a handset 35
Is connected.

The external interface 36 is an interface for directly transmitting and receiving data from the CPU 20a, and includes, for example, RS232C, SCSI, LAN (for example, Ethernet).
The device main body 1 can be used as a scanner printer of the external computer 37 by connecting to the computer 37 outside the device by a connection method of an interface standard such as et). HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 38
Is used as a large-capacity nonvolatile memory for storing image information and the like.

When recording images of a plurality of pages, the RAs are arranged so that the pages of the recording sheets P discharged and stacked on the recording sheet discharge tray 13a or the document discharge tray 9 are aligned.
After the images of all pages are temporarily stored in the M20d or the HDD 38, control is performed so that recording is performed from the last page.

Further, a communication control unit 33 serving as a communication unit for receiving image information from a plurality of image communication devices outside the apparatus main body 1 and a partner machine at the time of facsimile reception via a communication network 34, and an external interface 36 If the external computer 37 can transmit the image information from the last page, the page order of the image is changed on the partner machine or the external computer 37 side at the time of facsimile reception, and the image is received on the main body 1 side of the apparatus. The recording may be performed in the order of pages.

Next, the jam clearing operation of the recording sheet P in the double-sided conveying section 26 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the document tray 2b, the document discharge tray 9, and the recording sheet discharge tray 13a are arranged at substantially the same position in the vertical direction of the apparatus main body 1, and the hinge portions 2c, 9a, 13
The center of rotation b is also arranged at a position substantially equal to the vertical direction of the apparatus main body 1.

Therefore, when a jam of the recording sheet P occurs in the two-sided conveyance section 26, as shown in FIG. 3, the original tray 2b, the original discharge tray 9, and the recording sheet discharge tray
The double-sided conveying unit is rotated by retracting the upper part 13a around the center of rotation composed of the hinge parts 2c, 9a and 13b.
The upper part of 26 is opened and exposed so that jam processing can be performed.

As shown in FIG. 3, when the document discharge tray 9 and the recording sheet discharge tray 13a are rotated upward and retracted, both the document discharge tray sensor 9b and the recording sheet discharge tray sensor 13c are mounted on the apparatus main body. The document ejection tray 9 and the recording sheet ejection tray 13a are not affected by the rotation of the document ejection tray 9 and the recording sheet ejection tray 13a.

Further, the recording sheet P
If there is a stagnation, as shown in FIG.
Pressing of 29b against separation roller 29a and pair of intermediate conveyance rollers
By releasing the pressure contact of 30, the retained recording sheet P can be easily removed.

In the case of this embodiment, the recording sheet discharge tray
13a and the intermediate tray right cover 27b are made of a transparent material such as a polycarbonate resin or a transparent ABS (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer) resin, for example.
26 states can be checked even during operation.

As described above, the state of the double-sided conveyance unit 26 can be checked even during operation, so that the recording sheet P, such as how far the recording has progressed during recording on the back surface of the recording sheet P, can be checked.
Can be easily visually checked, and the recording sheet P
Even if a paper jam occurs, it is possible to easily confirm whether or not the recording sheet P is staying in the double-sided conveyance unit 26.

Accordingly, it is possible to operate the document tray 2b, the document discharge tray 9, and the recording sheet discharge tray 13a in order while visually observing the jammed recording sheet P, and to perform the jam processing by an intuitively easy-to-understand operation. Can be done.

FIG. 5 is a view showing an example in which the recording sheet discharge tray 13a and the intermediate tray right cover 27b are made of an opaque material. In FIG. 5, the recording sheet discharge tray 13a and the intermediate tray right cover 27b are provided with a plurality of slits 13d and 27c having a width of about 3 to 5 mm.

With this configuration, even when the recording sheet discharge tray 13a and the intermediate tray right cover 27b are made of an opaque material, the state of the double-sided conveyance unit 26 can be confirmed through the slits 13d and 27c. .

Since the slits 13d and 27c have a small width of about 3 to 5 mm, large foreign substances which affect the conveyance of the recording sheet P from the outside are not mixed. The part 26 can be brought close to the same environmental conditions as the outside air.

The recording sheet discharge tray 13a and the intermediate tray right cover 27b may be made of the above-mentioned transparent resin material and provided with slits 13d and 27c, or the recording sheet discharge tray 13a and the intermediate tray right cover 27b. Is made of a transparent material, and slits 13d, 27c
May be provided as appropriate.

Next, control for opening and closing the recording sheet discharge tray 13a will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIG. 6, a tray lock portion 39 and a tray open / close sensor 40 are provided on the rear side of the apparatus main body 4 of the recording sheet discharge tray 13a.

The tray open / close sensor 40 is a general sensor using a photo interrupter, a micro switch, and the like, and detects the open / close state of the recording sheet discharge tray 13a. Further, an interlock mechanism for forcibly stopping the operation of the image recording apparatus main body 4 in conjunction with opening and closing of the recording sheet discharge tray 13a may be incorporated.

As shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the tray lock section 39 includes a solenoid 39a, a lock lever 39b, a lock spring 39c, a hinge section 39d, and the like. It is arranged on the side.

FIG. 7A shows a state where power is not supplied to the solenoid 39a, and the recording sheet discharge tray 13a is open. FIG. 7B shows a state in which the solenoid 39a is energized, and the upper surface of the recording sheet discharge tray 13a is regulated by the projecting portion of the lock lever 39b, and the recording sheet discharge tray 13a is locked.

That is, as shown in FIG. 7B, when the solenoid 39a is energized, the lock lever 39b is moved to the hinge portion 39d.
Is rotated around the tension force of the lock spring 39c to enter the recording sheet discharge tray 13a side, and the recording sheet discharge tray 13a cannot be rotated and opened.

As shown in FIG. 7 (a), when the solenoid 39a is not energized, the lock lever 39b is pulled back by the lock spring 39c, and the recording sheet discharge tray 13a can be opened by rotating. Become like

In the configuration of the present embodiment, the solenoid 39a must be kept energized while the recording sheet discharge tray 13a is locked, but it is preferable because the lock is automatically released at the time of power failure.

In order to avoid continuous energization of the solenoid 39a, it is possible to operate the lock lever 39b using a keep solenoid or a DC (direct current) motor or the like which keeps the operated position as it is. With this configuration, if it is necessary to open the recording sheet discharge tray 13a in the event of a power failure in the locked state, the lock may be manually released if necessary.

Next, the recording sheet discharge tray 13 will be described with reference to FIG.
A flowchart for controlling the opening and closing of a will be described.
First, in step S1 of FIG.
Check the detection status of 40. If the recording sheet discharge tray 13a is open in step S2, the process proceeds to step S3, and if the recording sheet discharge tray 13a is closed, the process proceeds to step S4.

In step S3, if a recording operation is performed while the recording sheet discharge tray 13a is open, an unnecessary jam is highly likely to occur, so that the status "recording disabled" is set. Even in this state, other functions such as facsimile transmission can normally operate, but reception output and report output that require a recording operation are not performed.

In step S4, the recording sheet discharge tray
It is confirmed whether or not there is a recording request when 13a is closed. In step S5, if there is a recording request, the process proceeds to step S6, and if there is no recording request, the process returns to step S1.

In step S6, when there is a recording request, the tray lock unit 39 is operated to lock the recording sheet discharge tray 13a so that the user does not carelessly open the recording sheet discharge tray 13a.

Then, in step S7, the requested recording is executed, and it is confirmed whether the recording is completed normally or abnormally due to a jam or the like. If the recording is completed normally in step S8, the process proceeds to step S12,
If the processing has not been completed normally, the process proceeds to step S9.

If a jam occurs in the recording sheet P, it is necessary to open the recording sheet discharge tray 13a to remove the recording sheet P staying inside the image recording apparatus main body 4. Lock part 39
To unlock the recording sheet discharge tray 13a.

Then, in step S10, a message urging the user to perform the jam processing is displayed on the LCD 32a, and it is confirmed whether or not the jam processing has been performed. Confirmation of the jam processing is performed by each sensor in the image recording apparatus main body 4 by the recording sheet P.
Confirm that is not detected.

In step S11, when the end of the jam processing is confirmed, the process proceeds to step S12, and when the end of the jam process is not confirmed, the process proceeds to step S10. In step S12, the lock state of the recording sheet discharge tray 13a is changed by operating the tray lock unit 39. After the lock state of the recording sheet discharge tray 13a is changed, the process returns to step S1.

In step S12, the lock is normally released, but the lock state may be continued by setting a software switch or the like. By stacking the recorded recording sheets P on the double-sided conveyance section 26 in such a setting state, the recorded recording sheets P as described in the above-mentioned conventional example of Japanese Patent No. 2632412 are unspecified. It is also possible to use a device that cannot be taken out by a large number of users.

In this case, the lock is released and the double-sided conveying section
In order to take out the recorded recording sheets P stacked on 26, the unlock operation is performed by inputting the password.

Further, another lock for suppressing the unlocking operation may be provided, or the recording sheet discharge tray 13a and the intermediate sheet tray 13a may be provided in order to prevent the recorded recording sheet P from being taken out even during jam processing. The tray right cover 27b and the intermediate tray 27 may be integrated and opened in a box shape.

Next, referring to FIG. 9 to FIG. 11, the intermediate tray front cover 41 on the front side of the
The control in the case where it is configured separately from a will be described. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram when the intermediate tray front cover 41 is made openable and closed, and FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram when the intermediate tray front cover 41 is detachable. Note that the control flow described in FIG. 11 operates with a higher priority than the control flow described in FIG.

In FIG. 9, the front side of the double-sided conveying section 26 is covered with an intermediate tray front cover 41 that can be opened and closed. The tray lock section 39 is located on the left side of the intermediate tray front cover 41.
Intermediate tray front cover lock section 42 configured in a similar manner to
And an intermediate tray front cover opening / closing sensor 43 configured substantially similarly to the tray opening / closing sensor 40.

Next, a flowchart for controlling the opening and closing of the intermediate tray front cover 41 will be described with reference to FIG. First, in step S21 of FIG.
The open / close state of 41 is checked by the intermediate tray front cover open / close sensor 43. In step S22, the intermediate tray front cover
If the cover 41 is open, the process proceeds to step S23. If the cover 41 is closed, the process proceeds to step S24.

If double-sided recording is performed with the intermediate tray front cover 41 open, the user may erroneously touch the recording sheet P being recorded on the intermediate tray 27, causing unnecessary jamming. Therefore, in step S23, the status of "double-sided recording disabled" is set. In this state, the intermediate tray 27 is used as a discharge tray during single-sided recording. Further, by setting a software switch, control may be performed such that the sheet is not used as a discharge tray during single-sided recording in this state.

If the intermediate tray front cover 41 is closed, there is no problem in performing double-sided recording, so the status of "duplex recording permitted" is set in step S24.

Next, in step S25, it is confirmed whether or not an operation input of a recording mode change request is made from the operation unit 5. The recording mode change request may be made not only from the operation unit 5 but also from another communication device connected to the external computer 37 or the communication network 34 outside the apparatus.

If it is determined in step S26 that the recording mode has been changed, the process proceeds to step S27. If the recording mode has not been changed, the process returns to step S21. In step S27, the recording mode change status is checked. In step S28, if the status of "duplex recording permitted" is set, the process proceeds to step S29. If the status of "double-sided recording disabled" is set, the process proceeds to step S31. move on.

In step S29, the recording mode is changed to "double-sided recording" or "single-sided recording" in response to the recording mode change request. In step S30, when the "double-sided recording" mode is set, the intermediate tray front cover lock unit 42 is operated to lock the intermediate tray front cover 41. Also,
When the "single-sided recording" mode is set, there is no problem if the lock is not released by setting the software switch. After the lock state is changed in step S30, the process returns to step S21.

In step S31, a message rejecting the recording mode change request is displayed on LCD 32a. If the request is made not from the operation unit 5 but from an external computer 37 outside the apparatus or another communication device connected to the communication network 34, a signal indicating that the recording mode change request is rejected is transmitted. Thereafter, the process returns to step S21.

As described above, when the apparatus is such that an unspecified number of users cannot take out the recorded recording sheets P, the operations of the tray lock unit 39 and the intermediate tray front cover lock unit 42 may be linked.

By controlling as described above, the intermediate tray
The recording sheets P stacked on 27 can be taken out in the direction of arrow a in FIG. 9 and can be used with almost the same operational feeling as a general two-stage tray.

When the intermediate tray front cover 41 is detachable as shown in FIG. 10, the user may accidentally close the intermediate tray front cover 41 and use the intermediate tray 27 as a discharge tray. The possibility of causing a situation can be reduced. Conversely, when priority is given to ensuring the double-sided recording function, the configuration of FIG. 9 is more desirable.

Next, a recording sheet discharging section will be described with reference to FIGS.
A method for effectively using the 13 recording sheet discharge trays 13a, the intermediate tray 27 of the double-sided conveyance section 26, and the document discharge tray 9 in the reading operation and the recording operation will be described.

In the case of this embodiment, the document flapper 6k constituting the first transport path according to a predetermined use pattern when the apparatus main body 1 is used as a reading operation or a recording operation.
And the second discharge flapper 23b constituting the second transport path and the determination means for determining whether to use or not use the transport path 31 are determined by C of the control unit 20.
PU20a is also used.

The storage means for storing the history of the use operation pattern used as the reading operation or the recording operation and the storage means for storing the history of the use operation pattern corresponding to a plurality of image communication apparatuses are provided in the RAM 20d of the control unit 20. Is also serving.

Further, the CPU 20a of the control unit 20 also serves as a changing means for changing the operation pattern according to the history of the operation pattern stored in the RAM 20d.

FIGS. 12A to 12E show the recording sheet discharge section 13.
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a management table developed on a predetermined address of the RAM 20d which is referred to when selecting each of the recording sheet discharge tray 13a, the intermediate tray 27 of the double-sided conveyance unit 26, and the document discharge tray 9.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 12A to 12E, there are five use operation pattern operation modes.
FIGS. 12A to 12E show parameters set in the management table for the operation mode of each use operation pattern. The operation mode of each use operation pattern is set by a software switch or the like, and is configured to be appropriately switchable.

In the management tables shown in FIGS. 12A to 12E, the operation mode, the reservation status of each tray, and the presence / absence of sheets (document D or recording sheet P) on each tray are written. A tray in which a predetermined operation mode is reserved or a sheet is stacked is subject to use restriction from other operations.

The operation mode of the use operation pattern shown in FIG. 12A is the standard mode. The document discharge tray 9 is dedicated for discharging the read document D, the recording sheet discharge tray 13a is dedicated for discharging the recorded recording sheet P, The intermediate tray 27 is set only for double-sided recording. In this standard mode, each tray is not used for any purpose other than its intended use.

The operation mode of the use operation pattern shown in FIG. 12B is a reading two-bin securing mode. The document discharge tray 9 and the recording sheet discharge tray 13a are dedicated to discharging the read document D, and the intermediate tray 27 is for recording. The read two-bin securing mode is set for exclusive use of discharging the completed recording sheet P, and is used for a case where the reading operation of a transmission-only machine or the like is frequently used.

A document discharging tray 9 and a recording sheet discharging tray 13a secured exclusively for discharging the read document D,
One tray is selected in operation modes such as direct transmission and memory transmission. If any of the trays is loaded, the empty one may be selected.

Although the intermediate tray 27 is dedicated to discharging the recorded recording sheet P and cannot perform double-sided recording, it is possible to record a communication management report and the like necessary for a transmission-only machine.

The operation mode of the use operation pattern shown in FIG. 12C is a recording two-bin securing mode. The document discharge tray 9 and the recording sheet discharge tray 13a are dedicated to discharging the recorded recording sheets P, and the intermediate tray 27 is This mode is set as free, and this recording two-bin securing mode is used for applications where the frequency of recording operations such as reception and printer mode is high.

The two trays consisting of the document discharge tray 9 and the recording sheet discharge tray 13a reserved exclusively for discharging the recorded recording sheets P are selected in operation modes such as reception and printer output. Since the intermediate tray 27 is free, whether to use it for double-sided recording or to use it as a discharge tray for the third recording sheet P dynamically changes as needed.

If the intermediate tray 27 is used for any purpose, it is reserved for that use until a predetermined time (for example, 30 seconds) elapses after the stacked recording sheets P are exhausted. The reason why the change is not made immediately is that there is a possibility that the recording sheet P once removed by the user may be returned to the intermediate tray 27.

Also, when it is possible to predict in advance that a similar reservation will be made in the next operation by receiving a memory or the like, the reservation status is continued.

When the purpose of the tray is dynamically changed, the content is displayed on the LCD 32a of the operation unit 5. For example, when the intermediate tray 27 is used for discharging the recording sheet P, a message such as "Since the intermediate tray is used as a recording discharge tray, double-sided recording is not currently possible" is displayed.

As described above, when the reservation is released, the display on the LCD 32a of the operation unit 5 is returned to the original state, or the content is changed to a content such as "two-sided recording is now available". Although the reading operation is basically prohibited, a message urging the user to pay attention to the mixed loading of the document D and the recorded recording sheet P may be displayed on the LCD 32a of the operation unit 5.

The operation mode of the use operation pattern shown in FIG. 12D is a recording three bin securing mode in which the document discharge tray 9, the recording sheet discharge tray 13a, and the intermediate tray 27 are dedicated to discharging the recorded recording sheets P. The recording three-bin securing mode is set, and the recording operation such as the reception and the printer mode is almost performed, and is used for the purpose of loading a larger amount.

The three trays, the document discharge tray 9, the recording sheet discharge tray 13a, and the intermediate tray 27, which are reserved exclusively for discharging the recorded recording sheets P, are selected, for example, so that the number of stacked sheets in each tray becomes equal. . In addition, when a tray full sensor (not shown) is provided so that each tray becomes full, output may be made to another tray.

The operation mode of the use operation pattern shown in FIG. 12E is a tray dynamic securing mode, in which the document discharge tray 9, the recording sheet discharge tray 13a, and the intermediate tray 27 are all set as free. The tray dynamic securing mode is used when the use frequency of the reading operation and the recording operation varies.

Document discharge tray 9 and recording sheet discharge tray
In the initial state, all trays 13a and the intermediate tray 27 are free, and no specific use is specified. Then, when the reading operation or the recording operation is started, the use of each tray is determined and reserved.

When there are a plurality of usable trays, FIG.
It is used for the standard mode shown in FIG. Further, the priority order is set in another mode (for example, record 2 shown in FIG.
By using this in combination with the bin securing mode, it is possible to switch the securing order when dynamically securing the trays.

Next, control of the reading operation will be described with reference to FIG. In step S41 of FIG.
When an operation that causes a reading operation to be performed by placing the original D on the original tray 2b is detected, first, the original discharge tray 9, the recording sheet discharge tray 13a, the intermediate tray
Check the reservation status of each of the 27 trays.

In step S42, if a tray for discharging and stacking the document D is secured or can be dynamically secured, the process proceeds to step S43, and if no tray is available, the process proceeds to step S47. In step S43, when a tray is dynamically reserved, a reservation flag is set in the management table, and the reading operation is started in step S44.

In step S45, one page of the document D is read. The read image information is subjected to processing such as transmission or storage in a memory depending on the operation mode. In step S46, it is confirmed whether or not there is a next page. If there is no next page, the operation is terminated. If there is a next page, the process returns to step S45.

In the step S47, the LCD 32a of the operation unit 5
"There is no output tray reserved for scanning."
Is displayed to call attention. In step S48, a parameter is checked as to whether or not to load the tray reserved for recording. If loading on the tray reserved for recording is permitted, the process proceeds to step S44; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S49.

In step S49, a message such as "Please remove the recording paper on the tray and secure a discharge tray for reading" is displayed on the LCD 32a of the operation unit 5, and the process ends. Thereafter, the state of the tray is checked again at a predetermined timing, and if a discharge tray can be secured for reading, the process proceeds to step S43.
May be executed again.

Next, the control of the recording operation will be described with reference to FIG. In step S51 of FIG. 14, when the recording operation is performed by receiving or receiving a print instruction from the external computer 37, first, whether to perform double-sided recording and the reservation status of the intermediate tray 27 are determined. Check.

In step S52, if the intermediate tray 27 is reserved for double-sided recording or can be reserved dynamically, the process proceeds to step S53 (note that the process also proceeds to step S53 for single-sided recording). If there is no space in the intermediate tray 27, the process proceeds to step S54.

In step S53, a reservation flag is set in the management table when dynamically securing the intermediate tray 27 (note that no reservation is made in the case of single-sided recording). Step S
In 54, since double-sided recording cannot be performed, the mode is changed to the single-sided recording mode.

Next, in step S55, the reservation status of each of the document discharge tray 9, the recording sheet discharge tray 13a, and the intermediate tray 27 is confirmed, and in step S56, a tray for discharging and stacking the recording sheets P is secured. If the tray is available or can be dynamically secured, the process proceeds to step S57, and if there is no empty tray, the process proceeds to step S61.

In step S57, if a tray is to be dynamically reserved, a reservation flag is set in the management table. Then, the recording operation is started in step S58, and one page is recorded in step S59.

In step S60, it is confirmed whether or not there is a next page. If there is no next page, the recording operation is terminated. If there is a next page, the process returns to step S59.

In the step S61, the LCD 32 of the operation unit 5
A message such as "there is no paper ejection tray secured for recording" is displayed on a to call attention. In step S62, a parameter is checked to determine whether or not to load on the tray reserved for reading. If loading on the tray reserved for reading is permitted, the process proceeds to step S58; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S58. Proceed to S63.

In step S63, the LCD of the operation unit 5
A message such as "Please remove the document on the tray and secure a paper output tray for recording" is displayed on the screen 32a, and the processing ends. For example, in the case of reception, the operation mode is set to “receive and record”.
To switch the operation mode to "Receive and save to memory". Thereafter, the state of the tray is checked again at a predetermined timing, and if a discharge tray for recording can be secured, the processing may be re-executed from step S51.

At the time of the copy operation, basically, the reservation on the reading side is prioritized, and overlapping loading is prohibited. Even when the reading unit and the recording unit operate at the same time even in different operations such as transmission and printer output, the same control is performed.

In this way, it is possible to prevent the document D and the recording sheet P from being stacked together on the same tray. Further, it is possible to prevent the document D and the recording sheet P from intersecting at the transport direction switching unit 23.

Next, a method of automatically switching the above five use operation patterns shown in FIGS. 12A to 12E will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 15 shows an example of the contents of a history table developed on a predetermined address of the RAM 20d which is referred to when a use operation pattern is selected. FIG.
Is a flowchart showing the control of the timing of taking the history of the use operation and selecting the use operation pattern, and FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing the control of determining the pattern when actually selecting the use operation pattern.

First, the history table will be described with reference to FIG. In the present embodiment, the use operation history is stored in the latest 40
It is designed to save up to the first operation. As shown in FIG. 15, the history table shows the use operation date for each use operation,
The use operation time, the contents of the use operation, and the counts of the reading operation, the recording operation, and the double-side recording operation performed by the counter during the use operation are stored.

When a new use operation occurs, the oldest fortieth use operation record is erased, the line is moved, and the operation content of the new use operation comes first. In the present embodiment, only the number of times of each operation is recorded. However, the number of pages for reading and recording per operation is also saved, and the weight of the criterion for mode change (for example, the number of times × number of pages) And the like, and the total number of used sheets is used as a criterion, etc.).

Further, if the facsimile communication management table and the history table are integrated or linked to each other,
There is no need to store equivalent contents, and the consumption of the storage area of the RAM 20d can be reduced.

If the information of the history table is also output when the communication management report is output, it is possible to check the status of operations other than the facsimile operation.
It is convenient.

Next, the control of the timing for selecting the use operation pattern will be described with reference to FIG. First, in step S71 of FIG. 16, it is checked whether there is an operation request such as an incoming facsimile, a print request signal, a facsimile transmission operation, a copy operation, and the like. If there is a request, the process proceeds to step S81.

In step S73, the calendar clock is confirmed, and it is confirmed whether or not the target date for changing the operation pattern has been reached. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the confirmation is performed every seven days on every Sunday. If not performed periodically, it may be performed, for example, every 20 operations. In addition, a configuration may be employed in which a past operation history is totalized and a use operation pattern is changed in response to a user operation.

In step S74, if the date to be used is to be changed, the process proceeds to step S75. If not, the process proceeds to step S71.

In step S75, the stacked state of each of the original discharge tray 9, the recording sheet discharge tray 13a, and the intermediate tray 27 is confirmed. Here, if the use operation pattern is changed when all the trays are not empty, there is a possibility that another target sheet may be mixed in the same tray, so the use operation pattern is not changed.

Here, the control may be made such that the use operation pattern to be described later is determined and reserved, and the actual use operation pattern is changed when all the trays are empty.

In step S76, if all the trays are empty, the process proceeds to step S77, and if not, the process returns to step S71. In step S77, it is determined whether or not the use operation pattern is to be changed, which will be described later with reference to FIG.

If it is determined in step S78 that the used operation pattern is changed from the current state, the process proceeds to step S79.
In step S79, the use operation pattern is changed. If no change occurs, the process returns to step S71.

In step S80, the LCD of the operation unit 5
Display on 32a such as "Tray selection method has changed, please be careful not to mistake the output tray"
The process returns to step S71. This message is deleted after a period (for example, two days) necessary for recognizing that the user has changed the use operation pattern has elapsed. Alternatively, it may be determined that the confirmation is made by pressing the specific button by the user and erased.

In step S81, facsimile transmission and reception,
A predetermined operation according to a request such as copying or printing is performed. In step S82, the contents of the history table are updated according to the operation performed in step S81, and the process returns to step S71.

By controlling as described above, the operating pattern to be used can be changed to an optimal pattern at a predetermined timing. In addition, when it is not desired to automatically change the use operation pattern, it is possible to set the prohibition of the automatic change with a software switch or the like, so that the use operation pattern is not changed according to the history of the use operation pattern. It can be operated in the following pattern.

Even when prohibition of automatic change of the use operation pattern is set, the optimum use operation pattern using the operation history can be displayed, and the information indicating the use status can be obtained. It is a guide when setting.

Next, a description will be given, with reference to FIG. 17, of the control of pattern determination when actually selecting a use operation pattern. First, in step S91 in FIG. 17, information stored in the history table shown in FIG. 15 is totaled. The totaling does not necessarily need to total all the information stored in the history table, and the present embodiment is configured to total the history of the use operation patterns for the last week.

This is because the old information stored in the history table becomes unnecessary when the frequency of use operation is low. This period may be variable, and does not necessarily need to coincide with the cycle of determining the use operation pattern.

In step S92, it is checked whether the number of use operations within a predetermined period is 10 or less. If it is less than 10, the process proceeds to step S93. If it is more than 10, the process proceeds to step S94.

In step S93, a use operation pattern a shown in FIG. 12A is selected. If the number of use operations is small, the number of histories becomes small and an error is likely to occur in the selection of the use operation pattern.

Alternatively, it may be determined that "use operation pattern is not changed" to keep the current selection pattern.

In step S94, it is confirmed whether or not the number of read operations is 80% or more of the whole. If it is 80% or more, the flow proceeds to step S95, and if less than 80%, the flow proceeds to step S96. In step S95, a use operation pattern b shown in FIG. 12B is selected.

In step S96, the number of reading operations is 20
It is checked whether it is not less than 20%, and if it is not less than 20%, the process proceeds to step S97. If it is less than 20%, the process proceeds to step S98. In step S97, a use operation pattern e shown in FIG. 12E is selected.

When the reading operation and the recording operation are mixed at the same level, a finite number of trays can be effectively used by dynamically selecting the trays as shown in FIG.

In step S98, the number of double-sided recording operations is one.
It is checked whether it is 0% or more. If it is 10% or more, the process proceeds to step S99. If it is less than 10%, the process proceeds to step S10.
Go to 0. In step S99, a use operation pattern c shown in FIG. 12C is selected.

Step S98 is reached when there are many recording operations. At this time, when the double-sided recording operation is performed at a predetermined probability or more, it is preferable to select a use operation pattern c that can use the intermediate tray 27 for double-sided recording.

In step S100, a use operation pattern d shown in FIG. 12D is selected. When the double-sided recording operation is equal to or less than the predetermined probability, it is advantageous to select the use operation pattern d having many trays that can be selected for sort copy or the like.

It should be noted that the above determination conditions are merely specific examples,
Parameters may be set instead of fixed,
The algorithm of the determination may not be the same as that of the above-described embodiment. For example, a predetermined calculation formula using the number of each operation as a variable may be prepared, and the used operation pattern may be determined based on the numerical value of the calculation result.

According to the above configuration, the first transport path for transporting the sheet document D from which the image information has been read by the image reading unit 3 to the recording sheet P discharging unit 13 and the image recording unit 11 records an image. A second conveyance path for conveying the recording sheet P to the document discharge tray 9 serving as a document discharge unit. The CPU 20a serving as a determination unit causes the apparatus to perform a predetermined operation pattern according to a predetermined use operation pattern used as a reading operation or a recording operation. It is determined whether or not to use the first transport path and / or the second transport path, and a history of a use operation pattern used as a reading operation or a recording operation is stored by the RAM 20d serving as a storage unit, and a change unit is used. By changing the use operation pattern according to the history of the use operation pattern by the CPU 20a, the recording sheet P recorded on the document discharge tray 9 serving as a document discharge section can be copied. Ejects or ejects the recording sheet 13
By discharging the read sheet-form document D, the sheet discharge section can be shared between the reading operation and the recording operation, and the finite recording sheet discharge section 13 is provided without providing an additional sheet discharge section.
In addition, the document discharge tray 9 serving as the document discharge unit can be effectively used, and the use of the sheet discharge unit can be appropriately and automatically selected according to the ratio of the types of operation patterns used by the apparatus.

According to the above configuration, it is possible to easily confirm the recorded image on the recording sheet P after recording without touching the recording sheet P with a simple configuration, and the recording sheet P Intermediate tray serving as an intermediate mounting portion provided inside the apparatus main body 4 used when performing double-sided recording of
27 can be used as a discharge section of the recording sheet P,
Further, even when the intermediate tray 27 is used as a discharge section of the recording sheet P, it is easy to confirm the presence or absence of the recording sheet P and to take out the recorded recording sheet P.

Also, the history of a predetermined use operation pattern received from a plurality of image communication apparatuses outside the apparatus is stored in a RAM 20d serving as a storage means, and a CPU 20 serving as a change means is stored.
By changing the use operation pattern according to the history of the use operation pattern according to a, a plurality of sheet discharge units can be appropriately and automatically selected according to the ratio of the types of use operation patterns of the apparatus. Therefore, a finite number of sheet discharge units can be effectively used.

Next, an image reading and recording apparatus and an image recording apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 18 is an explanatory sectional view showing the configuration of an image reading / recording apparatus including an image recording apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

The facsimile apparatus shown in FIG. 18 is applied to the image recording apparatus main body 4 having a layout different from that of the first embodiment shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 18, in the present embodiment, a recording sheet discharging unit 13 having a recording sheet discharging tray 13a on the upper part of the image recording apparatus main body 4 is provided.
The recording sheet P on which an image is recorded by the image recording unit 11 is turned upside down, and the recording sheet P
To re-feed the recording sheet P to the image recording unit 11 once.
An intermediate tray 27 serving as an intermediate mounting portion for mounting and storing the recording sheet P, a re-feeding portion 29 having a transport belt 29b for re-feeding the recording sheet P mounted on the intermediate tray 27 and a separation roller 29a are arranged. Have been.

The image recording unit 11 is disposed directly above the cassette feeding unit 12 disposed below the image recording apparatus main body 4, and is transported between the image recording unit 11 and the recording sheet discharging unit 13 in a double-sided manner. The part 26 is arranged.

Therefore, the recording sheet discharge section 13 having the recording sheet discharge tray 13a is disposed on the upper portion of the image recording apparatus main body 4, and the intermediate tray 27 serving as the intermediate placement section is located immediately below the recording sheet discharge section 13 and the image is discharged. A document discharge tray 9 that is disposed directly above the recording unit 11 and serves as a document discharge unit is disposed directly above the recording sheet discharge unit 13.

In the above configuration, during the double-sided recording operation, the image information on the back surface of the recording sheet P is recorded first, and then the image information on the front surface is recorded, as in the first embodiment. The recording sheet P that has passed through the heat fixing unit 11g is conveyed to the double-sided conveyance unit 26 by switching the first discharge flapper 23a based on a control signal output from the control unit 20.

The recording sheet P conveyed to the double-sided conveyance section 26 is guided to the curl removing roller pair 28, and is heated and pressed by the heat fixing device 11g to form the curled recording sheet P by the curl removing roller pair 28. After the curl is removed, the sheet is temporarily stacked on the intermediate tray 27.

After recording the predetermined number of back side image information, the front side image information is recorded on the recording sheet P stacked on the intermediate tray 27. A re-feeding unit 29 is provided on the right side of the double-sided feeding unit 26 in FIG. 18, and the re-feeding unit 29 is provided with a transport belt 29b and a separation roller 29a which rotates in the reverse direction. Then, the lowermost recording sheet P stacked on the intermediate tray 27 is separated and fed from the bottom while being pulled in by the transport belt 29b.

Recording sheet P re-fed from re-feeding section 29
Is conveyed by a pair of intermediate reversing rollers 51, is switched back by the reversing unit 52, and is conveyed downward. After the switch back, the sheet is again conveyed to the resist conveyance section 24, and then the image recording section 11 continues the recording operation as described above.

After recording, the first discharge flapper 23a is switched to be stacked on the recording sheet discharge tray 13a of the recording sheet discharge section 13. The recording sheet discharge tray 13a and the intermediate tray right cover 27b are integrated, and can be rotated upward in FIG. 18 around the hinge 13b.

The recording sheet discharge tray 13a and the intermediate tray right cover 27b are formed of a transparent resin material as in the first embodiment, or are provided with slits so that the recording sheet discharge tray 13a and the intermediate tray right cover 27b can be connected to the double-sided conveyance section 26 as in the first embodiment. Whether or not the recording sheet P is staying can be easily confirmed.

Further, by forming the intermediate tray 27 with a transparent resin material, it is possible to confirm whether or not the recording sheet P stays in the reversing section 52. Also, a pair of intermediate reversing rollers 51
Can be removed by opening the right cover 22. Further, the refeeding unit 29 may be configured to rotate upward to perform the jam processing of the recording sheet P.

In this embodiment, the MP feeding section 25 is provided on the right side of the image recording apparatus main body 4. The other configuration is the first
The configuration is the same as that of the embodiment, and similar effects can be obtained.

In each of the embodiments described above, a case where the present invention is applied to a facsimile apparatus as an example of an image reading and recording apparatus has been described. However, the present invention can also be applied to a scanner printer, a digital copying machine or the like.

The image recording method may be another electrophotographic method such as a laser beam method, or may be applied to other recording methods. Further, another tray may be additionally provided for performing the sort copy.

[0197]

Since the present invention has the above-described configuration and operation, the first transport path for transporting the sheet-form document whose image information has been read by the image reading unit to the recording sheet discharge unit, A second conveyance path for conveying the recording sheet on which the image is recorded by the copy unit to the document discharge unit, and a predetermined use operation pattern in which the apparatus is used as a reading operation or a recording operation by the determination unit. It is determined whether to use the first transport path and / or the second transport path, the storage means stores a history of the use operation pattern used as a reading operation or a recording operation, and the change means uses the use operation pattern. By changing the use operation pattern according to the history of the document, the recording sheet that has been recorded in the document discharge section is discharged, and the read sheet-shaped document is discharged to the recording sheet discharge section. By outputting the sheet, the sheet discharge unit can be shared between the reading operation and the recording operation, and the finite recording sheet discharge unit and the original discharge unit can be effectively used without providing an additional sheet discharge unit. The use of the sheet discharge unit can be appropriately and automatically selected according to the ratio of the types of operation patterns used.

Further, in order to turn over the recording sheet on which the image is recorded by the image recording unit and to re-feed the recording sheet to the image recording unit, the intermediate sheet for temporarily storing the recording sheet is stored. Mounting section, a re-feeding section for re-feeding the recording sheet placed on the intermediate mounting section, the recording sheet discharge section is disposed at the top of the apparatus body, and the intermediate mounting section In a case where the recording sheet is disposed immediately below the recording sheet discharge section and the document discharge section is disposed immediately above the recording sheet discharge section, recording on the recording sheet after recording without touching the recording sheet with a simple configuration. The image can be easily checked, and the intermediate placement section provided inside the apparatus main body used when performing the double-sided recording of the recording sheet by turning over the recording sheet can be used as a recording sheet discharging section. Completed, and the middle Removal of check of recorded recording sheet presence or absence of the recording sheet even when used as a discharge portion of it is easy.

The history of a predetermined use operation pattern received from a plurality of image communication apparatuses outside the apparatus is stored by the storage means, and the change operation means changes the use operation pattern according to the history of the use operation pattern. Thus, a plurality of sheet discharge units can be appropriately and automatically selected according to the ratio of the types of operation patterns of the apparatus. Therefore, a finite number of recording sheet discharge units can be effectively used.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of a first embodiment of an image reading and recording apparatus including an image recording apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of a first embodiment of an image reading and recording apparatus including the image recording apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of a first embodiment of an image reading and recording apparatus including the image recording apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a control system according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration in which a slit is provided in a recording sheet discharge unit.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of a lock mechanism of a recording sheet discharge unit.

FIGS. 7A and 7B are plan views showing the operation of a lock mechanism of a recording sheet discharge unit.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating opening / closing control of a recording sheet discharge unit.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view in which a front cover of the intermediate mounting portion is configured to be openable and closable.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view in which a front cover of the intermediate placement unit is detachably configured.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating control when the front cover of the intermediate placement unit is configured separately from the recording sheet discharge unit.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a management table that is referred to when selecting a sheet discharge unit from a document discharge unit, a recording sheet discharge unit, and an intermediate placement unit.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating control for selecting a sheet discharge unit during a reading operation from a document discharge unit, a recording sheet discharge unit, and an intermediate placement unit.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating control for selecting a sheet discharge unit during a recording operation from a document discharge unit, a recording sheet discharge unit, and an intermediate placement unit.

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating a history table of use operation patterns referred to when a use operation pattern is selected.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating control for selecting a use operation pattern.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart illustrating control for determining a use operation pattern when selecting a use operation pattern.

FIG. 18 is an explanatory sectional view showing a configuration of a second embodiment of an image reading and recording apparatus provided with the image recording apparatus according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Image reading / recording apparatus main body, 2 ... Original mounting table, 2a ... Slider, 2b ... Original tray, 2c ... Hinge part, 3 ... Image reading part, 3a ... Drive part, 3b ... Image processing part, 3c ... Various sensors, 4. Image recording apparatus main body, 5 ... operation section, 5a ... numeric keypad, 5b ... function key, 5c ... one touch key, 5d ... start key, 5e ... stop key, 6 ...
Document feeder, 6a: separation pad, 6b: separation roller, 6
c: separation conveyance roller, 6d: separation conveyance roller, 6e: feeding roller, 6f: feeding roller, 6g: reading conveyance roller, 6h ...
Reading / conveying roller, 6i: discharging roller, 6j: discharging roller,
6k: document flapper, 7: document pressing portion, 8: contact image sensor, 9: document discharge tray, 9a: hinge portion, 9
b: Document discharge tray sensor, 10: LED head unit, 10a: One-dimensional LED array, 10b: Lens part, 11 ...
Image recording unit, 11a: photosensitive drum, 11b: primary charger,
11c: developing roller, 11d: cleaning blade, 11e
... Recording cartridge, 11f ... Transfer charger, 11g ... Heat fixing device, 11h ... Fixing sensor, 11i ... Drive unit, 11j ... Recording unit, 11k ... Image processing unit, 11m ... Various sensors, 12 ... Cassette feeding unit, 12a ... sheet cassette, 12b ... middle plate, 12c
... Middle plate spring, 12d ... Separation claw, 12e ... Feeding roller, 12f ...
Cassette transport roller pair, 12g: sheet path, 13: recording sheet discharge section, 13a: recording sheet discharge tray, 13b: hinge section, 13c: recording sheet discharge tray sensor, 13d: slit, 14: cartridge cover, 15: ADF cover , 16
... Outer document guide, 17 ... Inner document guide, 18 ... Document holding plate, 19 ... Joint section, 20 ... Control section, 20a ... CPU, 20b ... M
PU, 20c ROM, 20d RAM, 20e image processing section, 21 sheet transport section, 22 right cover, 23 transport direction switching section, 23a first discharge flapper, 23b second discharge flapper, Reference numeral 24: registration conveyance unit, 24a: registration roller pair, 24b: registration sensor, 24c: top sensor, 25:
MP feeding section, 25a: MP feeding roller, 25b: MP separation pad, 25c: MP medium plate, 25d: MP plate spring, 25e: M
P tray, 26: double-sided conveyance unit, 27: middle tray, 27a: middle tray sensor, 27b: middle tray right cover, 27c: slit, 28: pair of curl removing rollers, 29: re-feed unit, 29a
... Separation roller, 29b ... Conveyer belt, 30 ... Intermediate conveyance roller pair, 31 ... Conveyance path, 32 ... Display unit, 32a ... LCD, 32b ...
Various LEDs, 32c: tally lamp, 33: communication control unit, 33
a ... connection unit, 34 ... communication network, 35 ... handset, 36 ... external interface, 37 ... external computer, 38 ... HD
D, 39: tray lock portion, 39a: solenoid, 39b: lock lever, 39c: lock spring, 39d: hinge portion, 40:
Tray open / close sensor, 41: Intermediate tray front cover, 42: Intermediate tray front cover lock unit, 43: Intermediate tray front cover open / close sensor, 51: Intermediate reversing roller pair, 52: Reversal unit, D: Original, N: Nip unit, P… Record sheet

Continued on the front page F-term (reference) 2H027 DA44 ED16 ED19 ED22 EE08 FC02 2H072 AA31 CB01 3F101 LA02 LB02 5C062 AB02 AB08 AB17 AB22 AB35 AB42 AB46 AB53 AC09 AC11 AC58 AF00 BA04 9A001 BB01 BB02 BB03 BB04 KK03 CC08 KK35 KK37 KK42 LL02 LL03 LL05

Claims (7)

[Claims] An image reading unit configured to read image information of the sheet document; a document discharging unit configured to discharge the sheet document having the image information read by the image reading unit; An image recording section for recording; a recording sheet ejection section for ejecting a recording sheet on which an image has been recorded by the image recording section; and a sheet-shaped document having image information read by the image reading section being conveyed to the recording sheet ejection section. A first transport path to be performed and / or a second transport path for transporting a recording sheet on which an image has been recorded by the image recording section to the document discharge section; and a predetermined use in which the apparatus is used as a reading operation or a recording operation. Determining means for determining whether to use the first transport path and / or the second transport path according to an operation pattern; and using the read operation or the recording operation. An image reading and recording apparatus, comprising: storage means for storing a history of used operation patterns to be used; and changing means for changing the used operation pattern in accordance with the history of the used operation patterns. 2. An intermediate mounting method for temporarily reversing the recording sheet on which an image has been recorded by the image recording section and re-feeding the recording sheet to the image recording section. And a re-feeding section for re-feeding the recording sheet placed on the intermediate placement section, wherein the recording sheet discharge section is arranged at the top of the apparatus main body,
2. The image reading and recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate placement unit is disposed directly below the recording sheet discharge unit, and the document discharge unit is disposed immediately above the recording sheet discharge unit. . 3. The image reading and recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a mode in which the use operation pattern is not changed according to a history of the use operation pattern. 4. The image reading and recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the history of the use operation pattern is a predetermined number of recent times. 5. A communication unit for receiving image information from a plurality of image communication devices outside the device, an image recording unit for recording an image on a recording sheet according to the image information received by the communication unit, and the image recording A plurality of recording sheet discharge units for selectively discharging a recording sheet on which an image is recorded by a unit according to a predetermined use operation pattern corresponding to the plurality of image communication devices; An image recording apparatus comprising: storage means for storing a history of a pattern; and changing means for changing the usage pattern according to the history of the usage pattern. 6. The image recording apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising a mode in which the use operation pattern is not changed according to a history of the use operation pattern. 7. The image recording apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the history of the used operation patterns is a predetermined number of recent times.