JP2001077948A - Image-forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image-forming apparatus that can prevent miscopies. SOLUTION: This image-forming apparatus is a copying machine 1, that is provided with a paper feed bank 61 that feeds transfer paper, an image reader 69 that reads an image on the copy side of the transfer paper in the paper feed bank 61, a CPU that controls an image-forming operation of a copying machine body 3, and a display section that display a state of the transfer paper in the paper feed bank 61, and forms an image corresponding to an image of an original onto the copy side of the transfer paper supplied from the paper feed bank 61. Upon the receipt of an image detection signal from the image reader 69, the CPU stops a copying operation of the copying machine body 3 and allows the display section to display a fact of formation of the image onto the copy side of the transfer paper.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile, and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an image forming apparatus, image information of a document fed by an automatic document feeder that automatically feeds a plurality of set documents is sequentially read by a scanner and fed to a paper feed bank (paper feed tray). ) To automatically feed multiple sheets of paper (copy paper) sequentially to
Some form an image corresponding to image information read by a scanner. Such an image forming apparatus can efficiently and speedily make a plurality of copies.

[0003]

However, in the above-described image forming apparatus, a method of using a copy sheet once copied on one side, such as copying again on a blank side (back side of the copy sheet), is used. In this case, if the surface on which an image is already formed is erroneously set in the paper feed bank as the surface on which an image is to be formed (image forming surface),
There is a problem that a new image is formed on a surface on which an image has already been formed, thereby causing a miscopy.

On the other hand, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 7-129050 discloses that when recycled paper from which an already formed image is erased is used, for example, when a signature or seal is left on the recycled paper, this recycled paper is used. Discloses a technique for prohibiting formation of a new image. However, when an image other than the signature and the seal remains, a new image is formed on the image, and a miscopy may occur.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of preventing erroneous copying.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sheet feeding unit for feeding a sheet, an image reading unit for reading an image on an image forming surface of the sheet in the sheet feeding unit, and an image forming apparatus main body. Control means for controlling the image forming operation of the sheet feeding means, and a notifying section for notifying the state of the sheet of the sheet feeding means, and forms an image corresponding to the document image on the image forming surface of the sheet fed from the sheet feeding means. In the image forming apparatus, when the control unit receives an image detection signal from the image reading unit, the control unit stops the image forming operation of the image forming apparatus main body and informs that an image is formed on the image forming surface of the sheet. Is notified to the notifying unit.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the image reading device reads an image while the image forming apparatus main body is performing an image forming operation (the image is not printed on the image forming surface of the paper of the paper feeding device). In this case, in response to the image detection signal, the control unit stops the image forming operation of the image forming apparatus main body and notifies the notification unit that an image is formed on the image forming surface of the sheet. Let it. The control unit performs the above-described control not only for signatures and seals but also for all images such as prints and diagrams.

When an image is formed on the image forming surface of the sheet of the sheet feeding means, the image forming operation of the image forming apparatus main body is stopped, and the notification is performed by the notification unit, so that the image has already been formed. It is possible to prevent erroneous copying in which a new image is formed on the surface where the image is formed.

On the other hand, when no image is formed on the image forming surface of the sheet, the image forming apparatus main body forms an image corresponding to the original image on the image forming surface of the sheet fed from the sheet feeding means.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a paper feeding means for feeding paper, an image reading means for reading an image on an image forming surface of the paper in the paper feeding means, and controlling an image forming operation of the image forming apparatus main body. An image forming apparatus, comprising: a control unit that controls a sheet feeding unit and a notifying unit that notifies a state of a sheet of a sheet feeding unit, and forms an image corresponding to a document image on an image forming surface of a sheet fed from the sheet feeding unit. The control means discharges the paper outside the image forming apparatus main body when receiving the image detection signal from the image reading means, and outputs the paper to the paper feeding means when not receiving the image detection signal from the image reading means. It is characterized by feeding paper.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, when an image is formed on the image forming surface of the paper of the paper feeding means, the paper is discharged outside the machine, and the image is formed on the image forming surface. If not, the sheet is fed as it is, and the image forming apparatus main body forms an image.

Since the image is formed on the paper on which the image is formed on the image forming surface and the image is discharged out of the apparatus without forming the image, erroneous copying can be prevented, and the image forming operation of the image forming apparatus can be efficiently performed. Can be.

[0013] The invention according to claim 3 is the invention according to claim 1 or 2.
In the invention described in (1), the paper feeding means is a case-shaped paper feeding tray for storing paper.

[0014] According to the third aspect of the present invention, the first aspect is provided.
Or the same effect as that of the invention described in 2 above, and even if a paper tray in which the state of the paper is difficult to understand from the outside is used, the erroneous setting of the paper can be immediately recognized, so that the correction of the erroneous setting can be quickly performed. Can be performed.

The invention described in claim 4 is the first or second invention.
Wherein the paper feeding means is a manual paper feeding tray by manual feeding.

[0016] According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the first aspect is provided.
Or the same effect as the invention described in 2 above, and when the user notices the mis-setting of the paper, the mis-setting can be performed simply by turning over or removing the paper on the manual feed tray. Can be modified.

[0017]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a copying machine to which the present invention is applied, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the copying machine shown in FIG. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a copying machine (image forming apparatus) 1 is provided with an automatic document feeder 5 at an upper portion of a main body 3 thereof. An image forming unit 7 for forming an image on a transfer sheet (paper), a sheet feeding unit 9 for feeding a transfer sheet to the image forming unit 7, and a discharge unit 11 for discharging the transfer sheet from the image forming unit 7 And a CPU (control means) 1 for controlling the copying machine body 3
3 is provided.

The automatic document feeder 5 generally includes a document setting table 15 for setting a document, a conveyance belt 17 for conveying (feeding) the document on the document setting table 15, and a double feed (in a state where two or more sheets are overlapped). ), A separation roller 19 for separating the originals one by one, a pull-out roller 21 for transporting the originals from the transport belt 19 toward the contact glass 22, and a paper discharge for sending the originals to the original discharge tray 29 or the reversing tray 31. The control unit 18 includes a roller 25 and a control CPU 18 that receives a control signal from the CPU 13 and controls the automatic document feeder 5.

The transport belt 17 is rotated by a motor 20 driven under the control of a control CPU 18 provided on a control plate 16 of the automatic document feeder 5, and feeds (transports) a document placed on a document table 15. It is supposed to. The separation roller 19 separates the originals sent by the transport belt 17 one by one, and the originals pass through the original reading position 23 on the contact glass 22 by the pull-out rollers 21 so that an image is read by a scanner 34 described later. It has become.

The document on which the image has been read is sent to the reversing switching solenoid 27 through the paper discharge roller 25. In the case of one-sided copying, the reversing switching solenoid 27 remains OFF (the solenoid 27 is lifted up). ), And the document is discharged to the document discharge tray 29.

On the other hand, in the case of double-sided copying, the original is sent to the reversing tray 31 by turning on the reversing switching solenoid 27 (lowering the solenoid 27). When the document is sent to the reversing tray 31, the switching solenoid 27 is turned off, and the document passes through the switching solenoid 27 by the reversing roller 33 and is again sent to the pull-out roller 21 via the sheet discharging roller 25. I have. The document sent to the pull-out roller 21 again is read at a document reading position 23 by a scanner 34 to read an image on the back surface, and then discharged to a document discharge tray 29. In the present embodiment, the motor 20
Means not only the conveyor belt 19 but also the pull-out roller 2
1. Each member in the automatic document feeder, such as the discharge roller 25 and the reversing roller 33, is driven.

The reading section 6 generally has a scanner 34 and an image reading control plate 36 arranged in the scanner 34. The image reading control plate 36 receives reflected light from a document and receives the reflected light. CC that converts light quantity into analog electric quantity
D35 and an image reading control IC 37 for generating a control signal to the CCD 35 are provided. Scanner 34
Is scanned by a reflecting mirror as CC
After entering D35 and converted into electric charge, the output electric charge from the optical element is subjected to image processing on a digital signal from an image reading control board 36 provided with an A / D converter (not shown). A lighting signal is output to the laser diode 49 of the writing device 41.

The image forming section 7 generally includes a photoreceptor 38 as an image carrier, a charging unit 39 for uniformly charging the surface of the photoreceptor 38, and an image corresponding to an original image on the surface of the charged photoreceptor 38. A writing device 41 for writing an image to be formed to form an electrostatic latent image, a developing device 43 for developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the photoconductor 38 as a copy image, and a copy image of the photoconductor 38 on transfer paper. It has a transfer charger 45 for transferring and a fixing device 47 for fixing a copy image transferred to transfer paper.

The surface of the photoreceptor 38 is uniformly negatively charged by a charger 45. The writing laser light L output from the laser diode 49 of the writing device 41 scans the charged surface of the photoconductor 38 via the scanning mirror 51, so that the image area is discharged and the surface of the photoconductor 38 is removed. An electrostatic latent image corresponding to the original image is formed on the original image.

The electrostatic latent image on the photoreceptor 38 becomes a visible image (copied image) with a developer (eg, toner) negatively charged by the developing roller 53 of the developing device 43 attached thereto. The transfer paper is transferred by the transfer charger 45 onto the image forming surface (copy surface) of the transfer paper fed from the paper feeding unit 9. The transfer paper on which the copy image has been transferred to the copy surface is conveyed toward the fixing device 47 by the conveyance belt 55 and passes between the fixing roller 57 and the pressure roller 59 so that the copy image melts and is transferred onto the transfer paper Is to be fixed.

The paper supply unit 9 is a paper supply bank (paper supply tray) 61 which is a paper supply means detachably provided in the copying machine main body 3.
And a manual paper feed tray 63 for manual feeding. The paper feed bank 61 has a case shape, and the transfer paper stored (set) in the case is fed to the paper feed roller 6.
5, the paper is fed toward the photosensitive member 38 and the transfer charger 45 via the registration roller 67. An image reading device (image reading unit) 69 that optically reads a copy surface (image forming surface) of the transfer paper is disposed in the paper supply bank 61 above the stored transfer paper.

The image reading device 69 can be moved from the position shown by the solid line in FIG. 1 to the position shown by the broken line (see the arrow A in FIG. 1). The image on the copy surface of the uppermost sheet is read (detected). The image reading device 69 has an image reading control plate 75 therein similarly to the scanner 34. On the control plate 75, the amount of reflected light from the transfer paper on the paper feed tray 63 is analogized. A CCD 76 for converting to an electric quantity, and the CCD 7
And an image reading control IC 77 for generating a control signal to the CPU 6. The transfer paper image data read by the image reading device 69 is stored in a second RAM 89 described later.

Similarly, in the manual paper feed bank 61, the paper feed roller 73 of the manual paper feed bank 61 feeds the transfer paper set manually.

The paper discharge section 11 has a paper discharge stacking device 70, in which a plurality of transfer paper loading tables 71 are arranged. The paper output stacking device 70 sorts the transfer paper from the fixing device 47 to one of the paper output mounting tables 71 by the separation claw 71, and the transfer paper is stacked on the paper output loading table 71.

The CPU 13 controls the sequence of the copying machine body 3 and stores a control program in the RO.
M79, and a first RAM 8 as a calculation area of the CPU 13
1, and an image signal control IC 83 for controlling an image signal accompanying image formation.

The image signal control IC 83 is connected to a second RAM 89 for storing image information. Inside the image signal control IC 83, black data included in original image data from the image reading device 69 is counted. A counter 87 is provided. In response to the image signal control IC 83, the CPU 13 outputs a line SYNC signal and a line GATE signal, which are start signals of an image line, a frame GATE signal that matches the length of the document set by the user, and a transfer state of the transfer paper. Is output.

The image signal control IC 83 has a line GATE
The enable signal to the counter 87 (permission to permit the counter 87 to count the black data included in the original image data from the image signal control IC 83 only during the period in which both the signal and the frame GATE signal are active (the effective area of the image data). Signal is activated, and the number of pixels is counted up.

The CPU 13 is connected to the control CPU 18 of the automatic document feeder 5, the image reading control IC 37 of the scanner 34, the image reading control IC 77 of the image reading device 69, and the operation section 85. . The operation section 85 has a start key 91 for causing the copying machine main body 3 to perform an image forming operation, and a display section (notification section) 93 for displaying a state of the transfer sheet of the sheet feeding section 9. Is a part for operating the copying machine main body 3.

The CPU 13 performs document feed control by communicating with the control CPU 18 of the automatic document feeder 5.
By communicating with the control unit 7, various control commands related to document reading are set.

That is, when the start key 91 of the operation section 85 is depressed, the CPU 13 instructs the control CPU 18 of the automatic document feeder 5 to drive the motor 20, and also sends various control signals to each control IC 37, 77 and 83 are output. Image reading I of scanner 34
The C37 makes settings related to reading by communication with the CPU 13, and synchronizes the CCD with a reading start signal.
The image data from the server 35 is input. The image reading IC 37 converts an analog signal from the CCD 35 into a digital value by an A / D converter provided therein, performs various filter operations, and finally generates binary image data. .

This image data is stored in an image signal control IC 83
And temporarily stacks it in a second RAM 89 for storing image data, and outputs image data to a write control board (not shown) of the writing device 41 in synchronization with various signals such as transfer sheet position information from the CPU 13. Thus, the writing device 41 forms an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photoconductor 38.

On the other hand, the CPU 13
When all of the transfer paper image data read by the printer is stored in the second RAM 89, a register (not shown) of the image signal control IC 83 is accessed to determine the number of black data in the transfer paper image data stored in the second RAM 89. It is designed to read.

When the number of black data is larger than the value specified in the CPU 13 in advance, the CPU 13 sets the uppermost sheet of the transfer sheet in the sheet feed tray 69 (the transfer sheet to be fed from now).
It is determined that an image has been formed, and the image forming operation (copy operation) of the copying machine body 3 is stopped (stopped).
The display unit 93 of the operation unit 85 displays that an image is formed on the copy surface of the transfer paper.

Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described based on the above configuration and FIG. FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the copying machine shown in FIG.

When the user (operator) presses the start key 91 in step S1, the image reading device 69 arranged in the paper feed bank 61 reads the image of the transfer paper in step S2.

In steps S1 and S2, when the user presses the start key 91, the copying machine body 3 starts the copying operation and the image reading device 6
9 moves in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 1 to read the image on the copy surface of the uppermost sheet of the transfer sheet (the transfer sheet to be fed) in the sheet feed bank 61.

In step S3, the CPU 13 determines whether there is no image on the copy surface of the transfer paper. In this step S3, the CPU 13 compares the numerical value prescribed in the CPU 13 with the number of black data of the transfer paper image data read by the image reading device 69, and if the numerical value of the transfer paper image data is small, The process proceeds to step S4. on the other hand,
If the number of black data in the transfer paper image data is larger,
It is determined that an image has been formed on the copy surface of the transfer sheet to be fed, and the process proceeds to step S6.

In step S4, a copy operation is performed, and in step S5, the copy operation ends.
In steps S4 and S5, the paper feed bank 6
The transfer paper is fed from the image forming section 7.
To form an image corresponding to the document image, and the sheet is discharged by the sheet discharge unit 11.

In step S6, the image forming operation of the copying machine body 3 is stopped, and in step S7, the operation unit 8
The display unit 93 of No. 5 indicates that there is an image on the copy surface of the transfer paper, and the process proceeds to step S8.

In steps S6 and S7,
When the image reading device 69 reads the image on the transfer paper (when the image is formed on the copy surface of the transfer paper in the paper supply bank 61 when the copying machine body 3 is performing the copy operation), the image is read. In response to the detection signal, the CPU 13 stops the copying operation of the copying machine body 3 and notifies the user by displaying on the display section 93 that an image is formed on the copy surface of the transfer paper. The CPU 13 performs the above control not only for signatures and seals but also for all images such as prints and diagrams.

That is, the transfer paper set in the paper supply bank 61 may be used in such a manner that a copy is made again on a blank surface of a copied transfer paper that has been once copied on one side. If the copy surface of the completed transfer paper is set in the paper supply bank 61 with the copy surface erroneously facing upward, a new image is formed on the image obtained by the single-sided copy, and erroneous copying occurs. In this case, when an image is formed on the copy surface of the transfer paper, the copying operation of the copying machine main body 3 is stopped and the notification is given by the display unit 93, so that occurrence of erroneous copying can be prevented. .

Further, even in the case of using the paper supply bank 61 in which the state of the transfer sheet is difficult to understand from outside as in the present embodiment, since the transfer sheet is set incorrectly immediately, the transfer sheet is immediately turned over. The paper can be re-set in the paper supply bank 61 or the transfer paper set incorrectly can be removed, so that the correction of the incorrect setting can be performed quickly.

In step S8, it is determined whether or not the user has pressed the start key 91. If so, the flow returns to step S2 to perform the same operation. If not, the flow returns to step S7 and the display on the display unit 93 is displayed. To continue.
In this step S8, the display unit 9 is maintained until the user corrects the erroneously set transfer paper and presses the start key 91.
3 is continued, and if the start key 91 is pressed after correcting the incorrect setting of the transfer paper, the operation from step S2 is repeated.

Next, another embodiment will be described. In the description, the same parts as those described above are denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the copying machine according to the second embodiment. In step S11, the user presses the start key 91, and the
At 12, the image reading device 69 reads the image of the copy surface of the transfer paper in the paper supply bank 61.

In step S13, if there is no image on the copy surface of the transfer paper, a normal copy operation is performed in step S14, and the copy operation ends in step S15. On the other hand, if there is an image on the copy surface of the transfer paper, the process proceeds to step S16.

In step S16, the transfer sheet having the image on the copy surface is discharged out of the apparatus without performing the copy operation, and in step S17, the image on the copy surface of the next transfer sheet is read. In step S16 and step S17, when the transfer paper is erroneously set in the paper supply bank 61, the transfer paper is discharged out of the apparatus as it is, and the image reading device 69 reads the copy surface of the next transfer paper. Read.

In step S18, if there is no image on the copy surface of the next transfer paper, the flow proceeds to step S14 to perform a normal copy operation. If there is an image on the copy surface of the next transfer paper, the flow proceeds to step S16. Returning, the same operation as described above is performed.

That is, when an image is formed on the copy surface of the transfer paper in the paper supply bank 61, the transfer paper is discharged outside the machine, and when no image is formed on the copy surface, the transfer paper is discharged. Is fed as it is, and a copying operation is performed by the copying machine body 3.

Since the image is formed on the transfer sheet on which the image is formed on the copy surface and the image is discharged outside the apparatus without forming the image, erroneous copying can be prevented, and the image forming operation of the copying machine body 3 can be performed efficiently. Can be.

Next, a third embodiment will be described. In the third embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the manual paper feed tray 63 is
An image reading device 95 for optically reading an image on a copy surface of a transfer sheet fed from the printer is provided. The configuration of the image reading device 95 is substantially the same as that of the above-described image reading device 69 of the paper feed bank 61, and thus the description thereof is omitted. Further, the copier 1 according to the third embodiment has the same operation as the above-described second embodiment (see FIG. 4).

In the case where the manual paper feed tray 63 is used as in the present embodiment, when the user notices an erroneous setting of the transfer paper such that an image is to be formed on a surface on which an image is already formed, the manual paper feed tray 63 is used. The erroneous setting can be corrected by a simple operation of simply turning over the transfer paper on the paper feed tray 63 or removing the transfer paper.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. For example, in the present embodiment, the display unit 93 is used as the notification unit. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, notification using a sound such as a buzzer may be used, as long as the user can be notified.

The image reading device 6 of the paper feed bank 61
9 and the image reading device 95 of the manual paper feed tray 63 may be used.

Further, in the present invention, a copying machine is applied as an image forming apparatus. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be, for example, a printer, a facsimile, or a multifunction machine thereof.

[0061]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when an image is formed on the image forming surface of the paper of the paper feeding means, the image forming operation of the main body of the image forming apparatus is stopped, and the notification by the notification unit is performed. Is performed, it is possible to prevent erroneous copying in which an image is newly formed on a surface on which an image is already formed.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since an image is formed on a sheet on which an image is formed on an image forming surface and the image is discharged out of the apparatus without being formed, erroneous copying can be prevented and the image forming apparatus main body can be prevented. An image forming operation can be performed efficiently.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the same effects as those of the first or second aspect of the present invention can be obtained, and even when a sheet tray from which the state of the sheet is difficult to understand from the outside is used, Since the erroneous set can be immediately recognized, the erroneous set can be corrected quickly.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the same effects as those of the first or second aspect of the invention can be obtained, and when the user notices an erroneous setting of the sheet, the sheet lying on the manual feed tray is turned over. Incorrect operation can be corrected by a simple operation of removing or setting.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a copying machine to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the copying machine shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the copying machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a copying machine according to a second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 copying machine (image forming apparatus) 3 copying machine main body (image forming apparatus main body) 13 CPU (control means) 61 paper feeding bank (paper feeding tray) 63 manual paper feeding tray 69, 95 image reading device (image reading means) 93 Display unit (notification unit)

Claims (4)

[Claims] A sheet feeding unit for feeding a sheet; an image reading unit for reading an image on an image forming surface of the sheet in the sheet feeding unit; a control unit for controlling an image forming operation of an image forming apparatus main body; And a notifying unit for notifying the state of the sheet of the means, and forming an image corresponding to the original image on the image forming surface of the sheet fed from the sheet feeding means. Receiving the image detection signal from the image forming apparatus, stopping the image forming operation of the image forming apparatus main body and notifying the notifying section that an image is formed on the image forming surface of the sheet. apparatus. A sheet feeding unit for feeding a sheet, an image reading unit for reading an image on an image forming surface of the sheet in the sheet feeding unit; a control unit for controlling an image forming operation of the image forming apparatus main body; And a notifying unit for notifying the state of the sheet of the means, and forming an image corresponding to the original image on the image forming surface of the sheet fed from the sheet feeding means. Receiving the image detection signal from the means, discharging the sheet outside the image forming apparatus main body, and feeding the sheet to the sheet feeding means when not receiving the image detection signal from the image reading means. Image forming apparatus. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sheet feeding unit is a case-shaped sheet feeding tray for storing sheets. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the paper feeding unit is a manual paper feeding tray by manual feeding.