JP2002185671A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow confirming of a finish state of an image while copying an original and to designate a part to be especially intensively confirmed. SOLUTION: When the execution of a trial copy mode is forgotten, or a copy operation is started after it is judged that the trail copy operation is not necessary, the copy operation is interrupted by a stop key at the time of discovering any abnormal picture while copying is performed, and then a trial copy key 315 is depressed so that the trial copy mode can be executed even when the copy operation is interrupted. At that time, a slave screen is displayed so that the designation key can be depressed, and that the copy start position can be designated by ten keys. In this case, an original image is already read, and the start position is displayed at the time of designating the start position so that any misoperation can be prevented. Also, the set number of copies is prevented from being updated during the trial copy operation so that it is not necessary to recount the number of copies in order to obtain the images of the desired number of copies later.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having a trial copy function and an image confirmation function.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, image forming apparatuses have rapidly switched from analog image forming apparatuses to digital image forming apparatuses, and digital image forming apparatuses have become the mainstream of office machines, and integration with printers and the like has also been performed. ing. Digitization is also progressing in fields that require wide copies, such as drawings, and the functions mounted on office machines are also mounted on wide machines, and multifunctionality is increasing.

[0003] Original documents to be copied on office machines generally have many texts, and high productivity is required in addition to the image quality of the copy. The reality is that copy image quality and productivity are required. Higher magnification accuracy and higher image quality are required for originals. In addition, instead of using cut paper like office machines, roll paper is sometimes used, and the unit price per sheet is also high.

Therefore, some models have a function of trial copying as a function for reducing erroneous copying. However, the test copy function that exists at present is greatly different between office machines and wide machines. For office machines, a function for confirming the finished condition per copy for a wide-area machine, while specifying the number of copies in sort mode, etc. with emphasis on productivity confirmation (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-107852).
In contrast, the test copy for office machines is a test copy for checking the staple position (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-87205), whereas the test copy for the wide-width machine is a function for checking the image quality (conventionally. Wide machine).

[0005]

Conventionally, a trial copy on a wide-width device is a trial copy of only a predetermined image range from the leading end of an original image, and it is not possible for a user to confirm an image by designating a part to be confirmed. Since it was not possible, the user could not confirm the image of the part desired to confirm the image, and there was a case where the user had no choice but to copy and confirm the image. In addition, there is no model capable of setting a trial copy mode for a previously read original image and executing a trial copy, and the read original image is stored and a digital image is stored in the stored original image. There were no models that could perform machine-specific processing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problem, and when copying a document image, the user specifies a part to be checked with particular emphasis in order to check the image finishing condition. It is an object of the present invention to be able to confirm the image finish in a part. In particular, for document images that have already been read,
If you want to stop and check the image, you can set a mode to check the image finish condition later,
It is not necessary to read the document image again, and the operability is improved. In other words, when the operation for confirming the image finish is not performed before the continuous copy operation is performed, it is possible to interrupt the continuous copy operation and perform the operation for confirming the image finish. And

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention reads an original image and forms an image in a set mode.
In an image forming apparatus having a test image forming mode for checking the image quality finish in the set mode, a test image forming mode setting means for executing the test image forming mode after reading the original image is provided.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an operation unit, FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of an LCD display unit, and FIG. FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment, FIG. 6 is a schematic block diagram of the IPU 52, and FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of the image processing unit 65 and the MSU 66 in FIG. FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram for storing image data read by a scanner in a memory, and FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram for reading image data from an HD, storing the image data in a memory, expanding, scaling, and outputting the image data. 10
Is an explanatory diagram of the present embodiment.

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of the image forming apparatus. An outline of the image forming operation will be described. When a document is set on the document table 1-2 after setting the mode, the document is conveyed. The original size is detected by the sensor 1-27 during the original conveyance. Roll paper is fed from the paper feed roll 1 (1-8), the paper feed roll 2 (1-9), or the paper feed roll 3 (1-10) according to the document size or the set mode.

The paper on the paper feed roll 1 is fed by a paper feed roller 1-
11. The paper is fed by an intermediate transport roller 1-16, cut to a predetermined length by a midway roll cutter 1-14, and transported. Similarly, the paper is also fed from the paper feed roll 2 (1-9) by the paper feed transport roller 1-12 and the intermediate transport roller 1-16, and is cut to a predetermined length by the intermediate roll cutter 1-14 and transported. You. Paper feed roll 3 (1-1
0) is a paper feed transport roller 1-13, an intermediate transport roller 1-1
The paper is fed by the printer 7 and cut to a predetermined length by the roll cutter 1-15 on the way to be transported. The cut and conveyed sheet is conveyed to a position where it comes into contact with the photoconductor 1-20.

Image data read by a scanner for reading a document image is written on a photosensitive member 1-20 by a laser, and passes through a developing unit to form a toner image. The toner image on the photoconductor 1-20 is transferred while the transfer paper is being conveyed at the same speed as the rotation of the photoconductor 1-20. Thereafter, the image is fixed by the fixing unit 1-22, and is discharged by the linear discharge 1-25 or the reverse discharge 1-24 by the discharge port switching unit 1-23.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the operation unit. The operation unit includes a liquid crystal touch panel 21, numeric keys 22, clear /
There are a stop key 26, a print key 25, and a mode clear key 24. On the liquid crystal touch panel 21, as shown in FIG.
15, a message indicating the number of copies 318, 319, the magnification 317, and the states 316, 320 of the image forming apparatus, and the like are displayed.

FIG. 4 shows a trial copy key 315 in FIG.
Is a small screen LCD touch panel when is pressed.
-1 is a key for designating a start position of a portion where a trial copy is to be started, 4-2 is a display portion thereof, 4-3 is a release key for releasing a trial copy mode (trial image forming mode),
4-4 is a setting key for setting a mode, 4-5 is a numeric keypad group of 0-9 used for specifying a start position,
4-6 is a clear key used when clearing a numeral;
4-7, an enter key for confirming the number, 4-8, a display portion for displaying a valid start position when a document image has already been read, copying is started, interrupted, and a trial copy is executed. It is.

FIG. 5 shows a main controller (MCU) 51.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a control device with a focus on FIG. The MCU 51 controls the entire image forming apparatus. MCU
Reference numeral 51 denotes an operation unit 53 for displaying to an operator, inputting function settings from the operator, a control unit 57 of the scanner, control for writing a document image in an image memory, control for forming an image from the image memory, and the like. Unit (I
PU) 52, and a decentralized control device such as a paper folding 58 as a post-processing control device. Each distributed controller and MCU
Reference numeral 51 exchanges the state of the machine and the operation command as needed. A main motor and various clutches necessary for paper conveyance and the like are also connected to the I / O board 56.
Is controlled by

With reference to FIG. 1, the operation of the image reading means in this embodiment and the operation until an image is formed on a recording surface will be described. A latent image is a potential distribution generated by converting an image into optical information and irradiating the image on the photoreceptor surface. The scanner unit reads a document image by a CCD image sensor by conveying the document set on the document table 1-2, converts the image into an electric signal, and processes the signal. Writing is performed by converting the original image converted and processed into an electric signal into L
This is a portion to be written as a condensed image on the photoconductor by the ED head.

The polarized LED light is scanned in a direction (main scanning direction) orthogonal to the direction in which the photoconductor 1-20 rotates,
The image signal output from the selector 7B of the image processing unit described later is recorded in line units. An image (electrostatic latent image) is formed on the photoconductor surface by repeating main scanning at a predetermined cycle corresponding to the rotation speed and the recording density of the photoconductor 1-20.

As described above, the LED light output from the writing unit irradiates the photosensitive member 1-20 of the image forming system. Although not shown, a sensor for generating a main scanning synchronization signal is disposed at a position irradiated by the LED head on the photoconductor 1-20. Based on the main scanning synchronization signal, control of image recording start timing in the main scanning direction and generation of a control signal for inputting and outputting an image signal described later are performed.

The image processing unit (IP
The configuration of U) 52 will be described with reference to FIG. The light emitted from the exposure lamp irradiates the original surface, and the reflected light from the original surface is imaged and received by an imaging lens (not shown) by a CCD image sensor, photoelectrically converted, and A / D converted. At 62, it is converted into a digital signal. After the shading correction 63 is performed on the image signal converted into the digital signal, the image processing unit 64 performs filter correction, expansion of variable-size color data, γ correction, and the like. In the image processing unit 65,
The image signal is sent to the image memory controller (MS
U) 66 or switching to the writing unit 610 is performed. The image memory controller (MSU) 66 and the image processing unit 65 are configured to be able to input and output image signals in both directions.

Although not specifically shown in FIG. 6, the image processing unit (IPU) includes, in addition to the image data input from the reading unit 1-50, image data supplied from outside (for example, a personal computer). It has a function of selecting input and output of a plurality of data so that data output from the data processing device can also be processed. The CPU 67 includes a CPU 67 for setting the image memory controller 66 and the like and controlling the reading unit 1-50 and the writing unit 1-57, and a ROM 69 and a RAM 68 for storing the programs and data. Further, the CPU 67 can write and read data in the image memory DRAM 83 via the image memory controller 66.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram for explaining the inside of the image processing section 65 in FIG. When color conversion is required according to the mode via a scanner mask 71 for masking an area when image data subjected to image processing by the image processing unit 64 is read, color conversion 72 processing, color erasure 73 processing, image inversion processing 74, print and combine pages, dates, special characters, etc. 75 and store the image data unconditionally in the image memory controller 7A. The printing core 76 is a device for creating a page for page printing, extracting character codes such as stamp characters, creating printing, and generating print image data. The ROM 77 and the RAM 78 are involved in print control. The image data selection 7B is to output the image signal processed in the above steps 71 to 75 to the image quality core through the image signal, to output the image data from the image memory controller 7A to the image quality core, MS for
The image data obtained by combining the image from 7A with U
Select whether to output to B.

The details of the image memory controller 7A and the image memory DRAM 83 in FIG. 7 will be described with reference to FIG. The image memory controller 7A performs primary compression 8
1 / expansion 82, image memory DRAM 83 which is a storage memory for primary image data, (bank A84, bank B8
5) Secondary compression / decompression 86, HDD as large capacity memory
87 (hard disk drive), and has a block of a scaling 88 for changing the image magnification of the expanded registered image. The setting of control data in each block is performed by the CPU 67.

The image memory controller 7A comprises primary and secondary storage devices (83, 87). The primary storage device 83 writes data to a specified area of the memory or reads data from a specified area of the memory when outputting an image, substantially in synchronization with a data transfer rate required when inputting / outputting image data. For example, a memory that can be accessed at high speed, such as a DRAM, is used. The primary storage device 83 is divided into a plurality of areas (banks A and B in this example) depending on the size of image data to be processed (in this example, banks A and B). Interface section).

The secondary storage device 87 is a large-capacity memory for storing data for synthesizing and sorting input images. Similarly to the primary storage device 83, the secondary storage device 87 can write / read data substantially in synchronization with the data transfer speed required at the time of image input / output.

Next, an operation example of the image memory controller 7A will be described. [1] Image input (storage in image memory) The image data 8V1 processed by the preceding image processing unit as shown in FIG. 8 is unconditionally supplied to the MSU synthesizing 79, and synthesized with data already stored in the image memory. I do. The image data 8V2 processed by the MSU synthesis 79 has a primary compression
The data is compressed by the decompression 82, the compressed data is written to the primary storage device 83, and at the same time, the data is further compressed by the secondary compression / decompression 86 and then stored in the HDD 87.

[2] Image Output (Reading from Image Memory) At the time of image output as shown in FIG. 9, image data stored in the primary storage device 83 is read. When the image to be output is stored in the primary storage device 83,
The image data of the primary storage device 83 is expanded by the primary compression 81 / expansion 82, and the data after expansion or the data after the image synthesis of the expanded data and the input data is output. At this time, the magnification of the expanded image can be changed by the scaling 88.

The MSU combining unit 79 combines the image data of the primary storage unit 83 with the input data 8V1 (has a function of adjusting the phase of the image data), and selects the output destination of the combined image data (image output, 1 (Write-back to the next storage device 83 and simultaneous output to both output destinations are also possible). If the image to be output is not stored in the primary storage device 83, the output target image data stored in the HDD 87 is expanded by the secondary compression / expansion 86, and the data after expansion is primarily stored. After writing in the device 83, the above-described image output operation is performed.

In the printing mode described above, an arbitrary stamp image is configured so that the user can register it as needed. In the stamp image registration mode, the image from the scanner is stored in the HDD 8 described above.
7 and the user later selects the required stamp image, the stamp image data is stored in the HD
It is read from D87 and sent to the MSU combiner 79 to be combined with the original image.

Originally, it is not necessary to store the image data in the image memory when the number of image formations is one for one document image. In consideration of the fact that there is no need to perform this operation, or even if a transfer paper jam or the like occurs, it is not necessary to read the original again, and the scanned image is unconditionally stored in the image memory and the HDD. It has become.

A description will be given with reference to an example of the present embodiment. Originally, when copying an original of A1 size indicated by 101 in FIG. 10, when making copies for a set number of copies after confirming the image density and the like by test copying, if the density is uniform in all, There is no problem in checking the density everywhere, but if you want to pay particular attention to, for example, the 4th and 5th lines from the top, you must specify the image start position to specify that part and check the image density. As a result, as shown by 102 in FIG.
It is possible to check the image density by copying the image of 104 minutes from the 03 part.

For this purpose, the trial copy key 31 shown in FIG.
By pressing 5, it is designated that image confirmation is to be performed. Then, the child screen of FIG. 4 is displayed, and by pressing the copy start designation key 4-1 as the image start position, the start position can be designated by the ten key group 4-5. For example, when 100 is input, the specified length 104 is formed from the leading end 100 mm of the document image. The prescribed length may be a minimum transport length, for example, a transportable distance between the rollers that can transport the paper at a minimum when the paper is transported. After the designation, the setting as the trial copy (trial image formation) is completed by pressing the setting key 4-4.

In this state, the image forming mode may be set, or the image forming mode may be set before setting the test copy mode (test image forming mode). In any case, the trial copy mode is started by setting the image forming mode and setting the original. In the test copy mode, only the image corresponding to 104 minutes in FIG. 10 is formed from the image start position specified by the set image forming mode. However, all original images are read and stored in the memory. If the state confirmed by the trial copy is acceptable, the user presses the start key to form an image of the specified number of copies.

If the start key is not pressed,
When the image forming mode is set, the image confirmation mode is executed as the trial copy mode again. However, if the original image has already been read and the mode that can be processed only at the time of reading is changed, the original image is read again by sending a message that the original should be read again as indicated by 320 in FIG. Execute the trial copy mode.

When a mode that is not required at the time of reading is changed, image writing can be performed on the already read original image in the corrected mode. Copy can be performed. If it is finally acceptable to confirm the image, the user presses the start key to execute the specified number of image forming operations.

However, the above description is based on the case where the test copy operation is performed before the operation of forming the original image is performed. When the image forming operation is originally started, the mode is corrected even if the operation is interrupted. Was difficult. However, when the copy operation is started by forgetting to execute the test copy mode, or when the image forming operation is started because it is determined that the copy operation is not necessary, if necessary due to various conditions, the digital copy operation is performed. Unique (saves original image)
It is recommended to use the trial mode effectively by using the function.

Therefore, when the image forming operation is started, when an abnormal image is found, the stop key 26
By pressing the test copy key 315 at the time of the interruption, the test copy mode can be executed even at the time of the copy interruption. Then, the child screen of FIG. 4 is displayed,
By pressing the designation key 4-1 as the image start position, the start position can be designated by the ten key group 4-5. At this time, since the document image has already been read, an erroneous operation can be prevented by displaying an effective start position when designating the start position.

For example, when the original image is A1 size, the length is 841 mm. However, as described above, the paper has the minimum conveyance length, and the range of the effective start position as the start position in consideration of the constraint condition and the like. 408 before setting the start position
Can be displayed as follows. In this way, it is possible to prevent a mistake in specifying the start position. Further, when the test copy operation is executed after being interrupted in the middle of the image forming operation, the set number of sheets set is not updated during the test copy operation. This eliminates the need to recount the number of images to obtain the desired number of copies.

In the case of an abnormal image, when the image forming operation is interrupted and the test copy operation is executed, the number of copies before the start of the test copy operation is wasted, and the original copy operation must be restarted from the beginning. It is necessary to set the number of sheets again. The operability is improved by clearing the number of copies by ending the test copy operation (pressing the release key in 4-3) and automatically setting the number of copies again. As described above, by performing the test copy, it is possible to confirm an image at a designated portion, thereby reducing erroneous copies and improving operability.

[0038]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a mode for confirming the finished state of the image can be set after reading the original image, so that the mode for confirming the finished state of the image is forgotten. If necessary after the start of the image forming operation, it is possible to confirm the finished state of the image without passing the document again.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, when the mode for confirming the finished image quality is set, the start of the part for confirming the finished image quality of the read original image is started. Since the position can be designated, it is possible to confirm the finished condition of the image quality at the desired position.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, the range which can be designated when designating the start position of the portion for confirming the finished state of the image quality of the read original image is specified. Since the display is performed, it is possible to confirm which part can be confirmed, thereby preventing erroneous operation.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, when the finish of the image is confirmed in the mode for confirming the finish of the image quality, the set number of copies is not updated. It is possible to prevent the number of copies from shifting in the mode for checking the finished condition of the image.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, when the mode for confirming the finished state of the image is ended and the mode is released, the copy count number of the continuous copy operation is cleared. Therefore, there is no need to set the number of copies again.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of an operation unit.

FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of an LCD display unit.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram showing a display state of a child screen when a trial copy key in FIG. 3 is pressed.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the IPU 52;

7 is a block diagram of the image processing unit 65 and the MSU 66 in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating that image data read by a scanner is stored in a memory.

FIG. 9 is a configuration diagram illustrating reading image data from an HD, storing the image data in a memory, and expanding and scaling the image data before outputting.

FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram illustrating the operation of the present embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 21 LCD Touch Panel 22 Numeric Keypad 23 Initial Setting 26 Clear / Stop Key 31-39, 310-314 Mode Function Key 315 Trial Copy Key 4-1 Copy Start Designating Key 4-5 Numeric Keypad 4-8 Display 83 Image Memory DRAM (Primary Storage device) 87 HDD (secondary storage device)

Claims (5)

[Claims] An image forming apparatus for reading an original image and forming an image in a set mode, and having a test image forming mode for checking a finished image quality in the set mode; An image forming apparatus provided with test image forming mode setting means for executing the test image forming mode. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a designation unit for designating a start position of a part for confirming the image quality finish when the test image formation mode is set by the test image formation mode setting unit. The image forming apparatus as described in the above. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a display unit that displays a range that can be specified when the start position is specified by the specifying unit. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the set number of copies is not updated when confirming the finished image quality in the test image forming mode. 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the number of copies counted in the continuous copy operation is cleared when the test image forming mode is terminated and released.