JP2001160896A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To suitably form an index image corresponding to various kinds of punctuations in a group of documents without requiring a post device. SOLUTION: An image forming means forms the index image with the image of a document on a paper to unnecessitate a post-processing device for forming the index image, and the index image is formed in accordance with the various kinds of punctuations in the group of the documents recognized by a recognition means and is formed in a size corresponding to the number of the various kinds of punctuations in the group of the documents recognized by the recognition means.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus capable of forming an index image corresponding to a document break when forming an image of a document on paper.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, in order to form images of a plurality of originals on a plurality of sheets, an index image corresponding to a break of the originals is formed. JP-A-01-223
Japanese Patent Publication No. 480 discloses a technique in which at least one of the number of steps of changing the formation position of an index image and the size of the index image is adjusted in accordance with a copy sheet size detection signal to form an index image. I have. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H06-286932 discloses that a tab sheet having an index image is inserted between sheet breaks on which an image is formed. It discloses a technique provided with a tab trimmer for cutting and inserting while shifting.

[0003]

However, the technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 01-223480 discloses a technique in which a document repeatedly provided for copying by an automatic document feeder makes one cycle.
The index mark formation position is updated, and only the number of copies can be classified when a plurality of copies of the same document are repeatedly made. The technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H06-286932 requires cutting and insertion of a tab sheet separately, and requires a post-processing apparatus, which requires a large-scale apparatus.

An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of suitably forming an index image corresponding to various breaks in a document group without the need for a post apparatus.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention comprises: an image forming means for forming an image of a document on a sheet; Recognizing means, and index image forming means for forming an index image on a sheet, determining the length of the index image according to the number of partitions recognized by the partition recognition means, and forming an index image. Features.

In such a configuration, the index image is formed on the paper together with the image of the original by the image forming means. Therefore, the index image is recognized by the recognition means while eliminating the need for a post-processing device for forming the index image. A suitable arrangement can be obtained in a size corresponding to the various breaks in the recognized document group and the number of the various breaks in the document group recognized by the recognition means.

In addition to the above-mentioned invention, if the delimiter recognizing means recognizes a delimiter from manual input data relating to the delimiter from the operation panel, the above-mentioned characteristic index image can be formed in a group of related documents. Various breaks depending on the type of the original in the book, the development stage of the contents, and the like can be achieved by setting the page designation and other dedicated inputs corresponding to the various breaks.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings, for an understanding of the present invention.

This embodiment is an example of a copying apparatus 1 as shown in FIG. 1, in which an automatic document feeder 2 and a finisher 3 are mounted. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and an image forming apparatus that only takes a plurality of document image data from an external device such as a host device or external storage means and directly forms an image on paper without directly handling the document. It is effective to apply to Therefore, the automatic document feeder 2 is not indispensable, and the finisher 3 has a non-sorting process that only accumulates and aligns the sheets after image formation, a stapling process that closes after accumulating the sheets, and binding the sheets into a bag or Z-shape. It is convenient to use because it performs necessary finishing processing such as folding paper, but this is not particularly necessary.

The automatic document feeder 2 feeds out one document at a time from the bottom of the document placed on the document tray 4 with the document side up, and feeds the document onto the platen glass 10 of the copying machine 1. After being subjected to copying in the copying apparatus 1, the sheet is discharged onto a sheet discharge tray 5. In the setting of a two-sided original, the original is fed onto the platen glass 10 and the first side is subjected to copying, and the original is turned over by the original inverting mechanism 6 and sent back onto the platen glass to copy the second side. 1 for copying. The document whose second surface has been copied is discharged onto the discharge tray 5. Copying by the copying apparatus 1 is repeatedly performed on the same document surface by the set number of copies.

The copying apparatus 1 forms an image by electrophotography and performs copying, but is not limited to this. This includes the case where various liquids and powders of toner are used, and the case where an image forming method of printing directly on paper is adopted. The copying apparatus 1 scans an image of a document that is fed and positioned on a platen glass 10 by an automatic document feeder and converts the image into an image signal, and an image that processes an image signal sent from the scanning system 11. A signal processing unit 12, a memory unit unit 15 for switching whether image data input from the image signal processing unit 12 is directly input to the image forming unit 14 or stored in a memory; A print processing unit 17 that drives the light emitting unit 16 based on image data input from the light receiving unit 15; an optical system 18 that guides light from the light emitting unit 16 to an exposure position on the photosensitive drum 117; Body drum 11
And an image forming system 19 for developing an electrostatic latent image on the transfer sheet 7, electrostatically transferring the electrostatic latent image onto transfer paper, and performing a fixing process to form an image.

As an example, the scanning system 11 and the image signal processing unit 1
2, the image forming section 14 and the memory unit section 15 are adapted to read a document image with two image signals such as for each color, and the light emitting section 16 is adapted to output two laser beams corresponding to the two image signals. It has semiconductor lasers 16a and 16b. The print processing unit 17 includes two semiconductor lasers 16a and 16a that output laser beams corresponding to the two image signals.
6b is synchronously driven with a predetermined time difference,
The laser beams from the two semiconductor lasers 16a and 16b are guided by the optical system 18 to two positions on the photosensitive drum 117 separated by a distance corresponding to the time difference. Imaging system 1
Reference numeral 9 denotes the two positions on the photosensitive drum 117, which are individually charged by the chargers 20a and 20b and receive the image exposure, whereby the two electrostatic latent images formed on the photosensitive drum 117 are different. Developing devices 21a and 21b develop toner images of corresponding colors to form a composite image corresponding to the original image. The composite image is transferred onto transfer paper by a transfer charger 22, and then fixed by a fixing device 23 to be fixed. It is discharged to the outside by 24.

Paper feed cassettes 25 and 26 are provided below the photosensitive drum 117, and a paper 6 of a required size is provided therefrom.
1 is supplied, and is subjected to the transfer by the timing roller 27 in synchronization with the developed image on the photosensitive drum 117.

The copying apparatus 1 has a path switching device 31 between the position where the copied paper is discharged and the finisher 3. The path switching device 31 sends the discharged paper as it is to the finisher 3 or switches back the transfer paper discharged after the first-side image formation according to the operation mode set in the copying apparatus 1. Then, the image is formed on the second surface via the timing roller 27 in a state where the surface is turned upside down.

The finisher 3 includes a non-sort tray 32 and a sheet stacking section 33 for stacking and aligning the sheets sent from the path switching device 31, and a sheet folding section 34 for folding the sent sheets into two or a Z-shape. When,
A staple processing unit 35 provided on the sheet sending side from the sheet stacking unit 33 and performing staple processing on the sheet stack collected and aligned by the sheet stacking unit 33; and a sheet bundle stapled by the sheet stacking unit 33; Alternatively, it has a sort tray 36 for receiving sheets of paper folded in the paper folding section 34 while sorting them. Various other functions may be added to the finisher 3, and some of the above functions may be omitted. In short, the configuration may be any as needed.

The copying apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 has an operation panel 41 as shown in FIG. The operation panel 41 displays a liquid crystal display section 42 for displaying various setting states and operation states and other necessary information, a numeric keypad 43 for setting the number, a paper selection key 44 for manually setting the paper type, and a selection state. Selection sheet display lamps 45 to 48, a cover key 49 for forming a cover in which all index images are formed on one sheet 61 in the index mode, and a sheet 6 as shown in FIG.
1, the index image 62 is simultaneously formed with the original image,
Alternatively, an index fixed attachment key 51 for attaching the image as a fixed size, an index variable attachment key 52 for attaching the image as a variable size, and a document for attaching the index image to be formed and attached subsequently thereto. Recognition mode setting key 53 for automatically recognizing the delimiter of a group, group number setting mode key 54 for setting a mode for setting the number of document groups which is the number of units for updating the attachment position of the index image, number of groups in the document group number setting mode An enter key 55 for ending the setting is provided. In addition, there are also provided a clear key 56 for clearing the number set by the ten keys 43, a reset key 57 for returning the operation panel 41 to the standard state, a stop key 58 for stopping the copying operation, and a start key 59 for starting the copying operation. ing. The copier 1 is controlled by the controller 74 shown in FIG. 3 according to various conditions and operation modes set by the initial setting and the operation panel 41.
The operation of the automatic document feeder 2, the finisher 3, the passage switching device 31, and the like is controlled according to a predetermined program, and the copying operation is performed.

In this copying operation, the index image 62 is formed in a marginal area along one side 61a of the sheet 61 in a required manner as shown in FIG. By utilizing this, the paper 61 obtained by partially copying a large number of originals automatically fed by the automatic original feeder 2 is sequentially discharged onto, for example, the non-sort tray 32 as shown in FIG. The index image 62 corresponds to various sections of the original, such as differences in the partial type of the original, differences in the development stage of the contents, and divisions of the number of originals, in the group of originals copied one by one. Is formed while changing the position on the sheet 61 as shown in FIG.

In this way, as apparent from FIG. 5, the index images 62 are formed at the same positions on the papers 61 corresponding to the originals of the same group, and are different from the papers 61 corresponding to the originals of the other groups. Since the index images 62 are formed at the different positions and can be distinguished from each other, it is effective for handling the copied paper 61 by dividing it into groups or collectively. In the case of collective handling, it is preferable to perform stapling processing via the paper stacking unit 33 because the above-described sorting state of the paper is maintained thereafter.

In the present embodiment, in particular, in addition to the copying apparatus 1 as an image forming means for forming an image of a document on a sheet 61, a delimiter recognizing means 71 for recognizing a break of a document group,
An index image forming means 72 for forming an index image 62 on a sheet 61;
The length of the index image 62 is determined by the length determining means 73 in accordance with the number of divisions recognized by 1 so that the index image 62 is formed. Each of the partition recognition unit 71, the index image formation unit 72, and the length determination unit 73 may be configured in any manner, but in the present embodiment, they are internal functions of the control device 74.

The partition recognizing means 71 detects the partition paper inserted in the document group based on partition sheet information detected by a partition sensor 75 using a photo sensor or the like, or based on partition information set on the operation panel 41. The above-mentioned various partitions are recognized. Index image forming means 7
2 controls the copying operation of the copying apparatus 1 so that when the index mode for attaching an index image is set by the fixed index attachment key 51 or the variable index attachment key 52, the index image 62 as set is formed. The length determining means 73 determines the size of the index image 62 to be formed from the number of document groups set by the group number setting mode key 54 and the numeric keypad 43 and the size of the paper 61 selected at the time of copying. It instructs the index image forming means 72 to form an index image of the set size.

As described above, since the index image 62 is also formed on the sheet 61 along with the image of the original by the copying apparatus 1, the index image 62 can be formed while eliminating the need for a post-processing device for forming the index image 62. A suitable arrangement can be obtained in a size corresponding to the various types of breaks in the document group recognized by the partition recognition means 71 and in accordance with the number of various types of breaks in the document group recognized by the partition recognition means 71. Even if the number of divisions is large or small, the index images 62 can be arranged in a predetermined range of the one side 61a of the paper 61 in an orderly manner under the best condition that they do not overlap and do not separate excessively. 62 can be formed in a style that is easy to recognize.

The delimiter recognizing means 71 recognizes the delimiter from the manually input data relating to the delimiter input from the operation panel 41, and determines the formation of the above-mentioned characteristic index image 62 so as to determine the type of the document in the related document group. Various breaks according to different or different development stages of contents can be achieved by setting by specifying pages or other specific inputs corresponding to the various breaks. Further, according to the insertion of the partition paper, the break of the document can be automatically recognized without inputting on the operation panel 41. When the number of divisions is large relative to the length of one side 61a of the paper 61 and the size of the index image 62 is too small, the position of the index image 62 is repeated at a plurality of positions, as shown in FIG.
It is preferable to form it so that it is divided into rows or more rows.

Further, all of the index images 62 to be formed may be formed on one sheet 61 as shown in FIG. 6 and used as a cover. In this case, particularly, the number of divisions by the index image 62 and the position of the index image 62 corresponding to each division can be visually recognized on one sheet, which is convenient. However, the adjacent index images 62 are different in color between each other, the gap between each other, the separation line between each other, and the difference in pattern by using the fact that the copying apparatus 1 of the present embodiment can form a two-color image. It is formed in a state that can be distinguished by, for example, Separately, index image 6
2 can be formed in a different color from the original document image on which normal image formation is performed.

Next, the main control operation by the control means will be described with reference to a main flowchart shown in FIG. When the start key is turned on in step # 1, step # 2
Then, the original on the original tray 4 is fed onto the platen glass 10 of the copying apparatus 1 by the automatic document feeder 2. Next, the image of the original is read in step # 3, and the paper 61 is fed in step # 4. In the next step # 5, the break of the document for attaching the index image 62 is recognized by the break recognition means 71. Finally, an image of the read original is formed on the paper 61 fed in step # 6, and an image forming operation for attaching an index image 62 in the index mode is also performed.

As shown in FIG. 9, the original reading routine shown in FIG. 8 first determines in step # 11 whether the mode for recognizing a document break is auto or not by operating the index fixed attachment key 51 or the index variable attachment key 52. It is determined whether or not. If the determination is not automatic, the process proceeds to step # 12, and the reading process is completed for all the originals. If the determination is auto, the process proceeds to step # 13,
It is determined whether or not the sheet 61 fed onto the platen glass 10 is a partition sheet indicating a document break. If it is a partition sheet, the process proceeds to step # 14 to turn on the index mode. Next, the process proceeds to step # 15, where it is determined whether or not the previous document is a partition sheet. If the previous document is a partition sheet, the partition sheet number counter is counted up in step # 16. Is determined. If there is no next manuscript, the process ends,
If there is a next original, the process returns to step # 13 to repeat the subsequent processing. If it is not a partition sheet in step # 13, the process proceeds to step # 18, where the document group flag is turned off.
Next, in step # 19, the original is read, and the flow advances to step # 17. If the previous document is not a partition sheet in step # 15, the page of the document is stored in step # 20, and the document group flag is turned on in step # 21. Next, at step # 22, the count of the partition paper counter is incremented. At step # 17, if there is no next original, the process is terminated.
3 and the subsequent processing is repeated.

According to the above-described processing, in all the manuscript groups, from what page to what page is one manuscript group, and whether the group of manuscripts is a chapter or a section is recognized by the separation by the partition paper. I understand. The chapters and nodes can be discriminated from the count of the number of partition sheets being processed by setting in advance a chapter when two sheets of partition paper are fed in succession and a chapter when three sheets are continued. The difference in the number of notches or marks provided on the partition paper can be determined to distinguish chapters and sections.

FIG. 10 shows an input flow of document separation recognition when document separation recognition is performed from manually input information. In step # 31, it is determined whether or not the document separation recognition mode is auto. If it is auto, the process is terminated as it is. If it is not auto, the process proceeds to step # 32, and it is determined whether or not the number of document groups is input on the operation panel. The method of inputting the number of document groups is to press the group number selection mode key 54 to set the document group input mode, enter the number of document groups using the ten keys 43, and press the enter key 55 to end the process. If there is no input of the number of manuscript groups in step # 32, the process is terminated, and
When the number of document groups is input, it is determined in step # 33 whether pages of each document group are designated. If the page is not specified, the process is terminated as it is. If the page is specified, the index mode is turned on in step # 34, and the process is terminated.

Finally, an image forming process flow for attaching the index image 62 will be described with reference to FIG. Here, a case will be described in which the length of the index image 62 in a chapter or section is constant for the sake of simplicity. But,
The length of the index image 62 for each chapter or section can be set in advance. As a result, a chapter or a section is determined based on a difference in the length of the index image 62. Further, as described above, the color of the index image 62 may be different, and the difference between the length and the color may be used together.

First, in step # 41, it is determined whether the index mode is turned on. If the mode is not the index mode, the process ends. If the index mode is ON, the process proceeds to step # 42 and the paper 61
The length of the document / the number of document groups recognized in the document reading flow and the document separation input recognition flow = the length of the index image is calculated. In the following step # 43, the operation panel 4
It is determined whether the index variable attachment key 52 or the index fixed attachment key 51 has been pressed for the length of the index image 62 on the first item 1. If the index variable attachment key 52 has been pressed, the process proceeds to step # 44.
Then, it is determined whether or not the length of one index image 62 is equal to or greater than a predetermined value. If it is more than a certain value, step # 4
The process proceeds to step S5, where the index image 62 is attached to each document group, and in step # 46, it is determined whether the cover key 49 is turned on. If the cover key 49 is not turned on, the process is terminated as it is. If the cover key 49 is turned on, all indexes are printed on one sheet in step # 47, and the process is terminated.

If the length of the index image 62 is fixed at step # 43, or if the length of one index image 62 is not equal to or greater than the predetermined value at step # 44,
The process proceeds to step # 48 to determine whether or not the index image 62 fits within the length of one side 61a of the sheet 61.
If it can be accommodated, the index image 62 is attached to each document group in step # 49, and the process proceeds to step # 46.
If not fit, index image 6 in step # 50
The index imprinting process is completed so that the arrangement of 2 has two or more columns as shown in FIG.

Another image forming flow in the case where the index image 62 is attached will be described with reference to FIG. Here, a case is shown in which an index image 62 having a predetermined length is attached to each document group without considering the size of the paper 61 on which an image is to be formed. Step # 61
To determine whether or not the index mode is turned on. If not, the process ends. If the index mode is turned on, the process proceeds to step # 62 to obtain the number of document groups counted up in the document reading flow.
Next, in step # 63, the length of the index image 62 is obtained. The length of the index image 62 is the length of the sheet size that can be accommodated in the copying apparatus 1 in the main scanning direction in the present embodiment (for example, if the sheet 61 is A4 size, it is 29
7 mm corresponds to this. ) And a table in which the length of the index image 62 is calculated from the relationship between the number of document groups.
Get the length of If the length of the index image 62 is determined in this manner, the index image 62 can be suitably attached to a sheet size that can be accommodated. Finally, in step # 64, such a suitable index image 62 is attached to each document group.

[0032]

According to the present invention, as is apparent from the above description, an index image is formed on a sheet together with an image of a document by an image forming means, so that a post-processing device for forming an index image is not required. However, the index image can be arranged in a size corresponding to the boundaries of the various document groups recognized by the recognizing means, and at a size corresponding to the number of various types of the document groups recognized by the recognizing means.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram showing a copying apparatus according to a typical embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an operation panel of the copying apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a control system of the copying apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a sheet showing an attached state of an index image.

FIG. 5 is a side view of a sheet group in which index images are attached in one row corresponding to a plurality of document groups.

FIG. 6 is a side view of a sheet group in which index images are attached in two rows corresponding to a plurality of document groups.

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing a sheet having all the index images attached to one sheet as a cover.

FIG. 8 is a main flowchart showing main operations of the copying apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a document reading operation.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of an operation of recognizing a document break;

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an operation of forming an index image.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating another example of the operation of forming an index image.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Copier 2 Automatic document feeder 41 Operation panel 43 Numeric keypad 49 Cover key 51 Index fixed attachment key 52 Index variable attachment key 53 Recognition mode setting key 54 Group number setting mode key 55 Enter key 61 Paper 62 Index image 71 Division recognition means 72 index image forming means 73 length determining means 74 control device 75 partition sensor

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Tomoyuki Atsumi 2-3-13 Azuchicho, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka Inside Osaka International Building Minolta Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Kaoru Tada Azuchi-cho, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka 2-3-13 Osaka International Building Minolta Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Hiroyasu Ito 2-3-13 Azuchicho, Chuo-ku, Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture Osaka International Building Minolta Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 2H027 DB00 FA01 FA21 FA22 FA30 FD10 5C076 AA14 CA09 CA10 9A001 HH28 JJ35

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An image forming means for forming an image of a document on a sheet, a delimiter recognizing means for recognizing a delimiter of a document group, and an index image forming means for forming an index image on a sheet. An image forming apparatus, wherein the length of an index image is determined according to the number of divisions recognized by the means, and an index image is formed. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the delimiter recognizing means recognizes the delimiter from manually input data on the delimiter from the operation panel.