JP2002209055A - Image reading recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image reading recording device that records image information of a recorded sheet so as to detect a recording defect without soiling the original sheet even when a recording process section gets dirt, and prevents an original sheet from being damaged even when the recording process section includes a thermal fixing device that applies a strong pressure onto the original sheet or the like. SOLUTION: A sheet on which an image of 1st image data is recorded by an image recording section 111 is carried to a 1st carrying path 131 on which an image read means 108 is placed via a 3rd carrying path 131 branched from a 2nd carrying path 123a, an image read means 108 reads image information of the recorded sheet as 2nd image data, the sheet is again carried to the 2nd carrying path and ejected via a 4th carrying path 133, and the image recording section 111 discriminates whether or not normal image information is recorded through the comparison of the 1st image data with the 2nd image data.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image reading and recording apparatus, such as a copying machine or a facsimile machine, provided with image reading means for reading an image on a sheet and image recording means for recording an image on the sheet.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional image reading and recording apparatus such as a digital copying machine and a facsimile is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-1463.
As described in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 7, the conveyance path of the image reading means for reading the image of the sheet and the image recording means for recording the image on the sheet are shared, and the image reading unit is disposed downstream of the image recording unit. The image information on the sheet recorded by the image recording unit is read by the image reading unit, and the image data for recording on the sheet is compared with the image read again after the image recording, thereby recording the image. There is one configured to detect the presence or absence of a defect.

[0003]

In such a conventional image reading and recording apparatus, since the transport path of the image reading means and the transport path of the image recording means are shared, when the image reading means performs normal sheet reading. The document sheet is configured to temporarily pass through a sheet recording process unit.

[0004] For this reason, when image recording by the image recording means is performed for a long time and dirt or the like adheres to the sheet recording process unit, there is a possibility that the original sheet may become dirty.

Further, when a sheet recording process unit includes a heat fixing device for applying a strong pressure to a sheet, such as an electrophotographic printer such as a laser beam printer, the original sheet may be damaged. Therefore, it has been difficult to adopt such a configuration.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to be able to read image information on a recorded sheet, and to prevent the original sheet from being stained even if the recording process unit of the image recording unit is stained. Even if the recording process section contains components such as applying a strong pressure to the sheet, such as a heat fuser, the document sheet is not damaged and the recording failure of the image recording section is detected. It is an object of the present invention to provide a possible image reading and recording apparatus.

[0007]

The main components of the image reading / recording apparatus of the present invention are image data holding means capable of holding image information to be recorded as first image data, and image data holding means for holding the image information. An image having image recording means for recording first image data on a sheet, sheet feeding means for feeding a sheet to the image recording means, and sheet discharging means for discharging a sheet on which an image is recorded by the image recording means The recording section and the original sheets stacked on the original loading table are fed one by one, and image information on the original sheets is read by image reading means arranged on the first transport path, and the read original sheets are read. An image reading unit that discharges a sheet from the image recording unit to the sheet discharging unit, and an image reading unit that discharges the sheet from the image recording unit to the sheet discharging unit. Branch A third transport path for transporting the recorded sheet to the first transport path, and a fourth transport path for transporting the recorded sheet transported to the first transport path to the second transport path. And transports the recorded sheet recorded by the image recording means to the first transport path via the third transport path, and transfers the image information on the recorded sheet transported to the first transport path. Control means for controlling the image reading means to read the second image data as the second image data, convey the recorded sheet again to the second conveying path via the fourth conveying path, and convey the sheet to the sheet discharging means. Comparing means for comparing the first image data with the second image data; and determining means for determining whether normal image information has been recorded on the recorded sheet based on the comparison result by the comparing means. And

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

First, an overall configuration of a first embodiment of an image reading / recording apparatus (facsimile apparatus) to which the present invention is applied will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing the configuration of a first embodiment of the facsimile apparatus, and FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the facsimile apparatus.

In the facsimile apparatus according to the embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, an image reading section 103 for reading image information of a document sheet (hereinafter, simply referred to as a document) D is arranged above a main body 101 of the apparatus. LED below 103
A printer main body 104 composed of an electrophotographic printer using an array is arranged, and a connection unit 119 having a conveyance direction switching unit 123 for switching a sheet conveyance direction is arranged between the image reading unit 103 and the printer main body 104. Have been. As shown in FIG. 2, a display unit such as an LCD 319 and a ten-key
15, function key 316, one-touch key 31
7, an operation input unit 105 including various input keys such as a start key 318a and a stop key 318b.

The image reading section 103 includes a contact type image sensor 108 as an image reading means and a substantially U-shaped as a first transport path provided with the contact type image sensor 108.
A document feeder 106 having a U-shaped sheet path 106p in the shape of a letter, and a document D
Table 102 on which a plurality of sheets can be stacked, and document table 1
A document discharge tray 109 serving as a document discharge unit disposed below the document feeder 02 and at a stage subsequent to the document transport unit 106 is provided.

In the printer main body 104, a cassette feeding section 112 as a sheet feeding means and an MP (multi-paper) feeding section 125 are arranged at the bottom of the apparatus. An image recording unit 111 that records an image on a sheet is disposed, and a sheet discharge path 130 from the image recording unit 111, which is a second conveyance path, has a recording discharge tray 113a capable of discharging and stacking a plurality of sheets P and a sheet discharging tray 113a. It is configured to be connected to a recording sheet discharge section 113 having a discharge roller 113d as a means. Below the recording sheet discharge unit 113, a double-sided conveyance unit 150 as a sheet reversing conveyance unit for reversing the front and back of a sheet on which an image is recorded by the image recording unit 111 and conveying the sheet again to the image recording unit 111 is arranged. A control unit 120 for controlling the entire facsimile apparatus is provided below the duplex conveying unit 150.
Is provided.

The connection section 119 has a connection conveyance path A131 as a third conveyance path and a connection conveyance path B133 as a fourth conveyance path. The connection conveyance path A131 connects the downstream side of the sheet discharge path 130 from the image recording unit 111, which is the second conveyance path, to the downstream side of the U-turn sheet path 106p, which is the first conveyance path. The connection conveyance path B133 connects the upstream side of the U-turn sheet path 106p and the upstream side of the sheet discharge path 130 from the image recording unit 111. The connection unit 119 connects the first to fourth conveyance paths to form a substantially looped sheet conveyance path, a lower discharge flapper 123a, an upper discharge flapper 123b for switching a sheet conveyance direction, and a document. Flapper 106k, Reverse flapper 132
And a transport direction switching unit 123 having the following.

Here, the lower discharge flapper 123a is disposed at a branch point between the sheet discharge path 130 and a conveying path connected to the double-sided conveying section 150, and changes the conveying direction of the sheet passing through the sheet discharging path 130 to the upper upper discharging section. Flapper 12
It is switched by a solenoid (not shown) or the like so as to guide to either the 3b side or the double-sided conveyance section 150 side.

The upper discharge flapper 123b is disposed at a branch point between the sheet discharge path 130 and the connection conveyance path A131, and changes the conveyance direction of the sheet passing through the sheet discharge path 130 toward the recording sheet discharge unit 113 or the connection conveyance path A131. Or the connection conveyance path A131
The direction of conveyance of the sheet conveyed from the side is switched by a solenoid (not shown) or the like so as to guide the conveyance direction to the recording sheet discharge unit 113 side or the sheet discharge path 130 side.

The document flapper 106k is disposed at a branch point between the downstream side of the U-turn sheet path 106p and the connection conveyance path A131, and moves the sheet conveyed along the U-turn sheet path 106p rightward in FIG. Output tray 1
09 or the connection conveyance path A131, or the conveyance direction of the sheet conveyed upward in FIG. 1 is changed to the document discharge tray 109 side or the U-turn sheet path 106p side. It is switched by a solenoid (not shown) or the like so as to lead to either.

The reverse feed flapper 132 is disposed at a branch point between the upstream side of the U-turn sheet path 106p (the front side of the close contact type image sensor 108) and the connection conveyance path B133.
The sheet conveyed in the forward direction (rightward in FIG. 1) along the turn sheet path 106p is guided to the contact type image sensor 108, while the U-turn sheet path 106p passes in the reverse direction (FIG. 1).
Is switched by a solenoid (not shown) or the like so as to guide the sheet conveyed to the left (to the left) to the connection conveyance path B133.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 107 denotes a document pressing portion, 110 denotes an LED head unit, 114 denotes a cartridge cover portion, 115 denotes an ADF (auto document feeder) cover, 116 denotes an external document guide, 117 denotes a document pressing plate, 118 Denotes an inner document guide, 121 denotes a sheet transport unit, 122 denotes a light cover, and 124 denotes a resist transport unit.

The image reading section 103 reads an image of the document D as follows. First, the original D stacked on the original mounting table 102 is
6a and the separation roller 106b pressed against the
Separated one by one. Next, the original D is transported by a separation conveyance roller 106c pressed by a pressing spring and a separation conveyance roller 106d pressed against the separation conveyance roller 106d to a first conveyance path constituted by an outer document guide 116 and a part of an inner document guide 118. Is transported in the U-turn sheet path 106p. Subsequently, the original D is fed by the feeding roller 10 pressed by the pressing spring.
6e and the feed roller 106f pressed against it,
The document pressing unit 1 is transported to the contact type image sensor 108 and
At 07, image information is read by the contact image sensor 108 in a state where the document pressing plate 117 is deformed and pressed against the contact image sensor 108 by the elastic force.

Next, the document D is conveyed by the reading / conveying roller 106g pressed by the pressing spring and the reading / conveying roller 106h pressed against the same, and further pressed against the discharging roller 106i pressed by the pressing spring. The document is discharged to a document discharge tray 109 by a discharge roller 106j.

In the present embodiment, the document flapper 106k performs a switching operation based on a signal from the control unit 120, so that the document D is discharged from the document D via the connection conveyance path A131 as a third conveyance path. It can also be transported to the unit 113.

In the present embodiment, the rotation direction of the feed roller 106f and the reading / conveying roller 106h is switched between forward and reverse based on a signal from the control unit 120. The reverse rotation of the feed roller 106f and the reading / conveying roller 106h allows the contact-type image sensor 108 to read an image of the reversely fed document D. At this time, the document D The document is conveyed while being guided by an outer document guide 116, an inner document guide 118, and a document guide plate (not shown).

The document table 102 is provided with a slidable slider 102a in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the document D is conveyed (the width direction of the document D), and the document stacked on the document table 102 by the slider 102a. Both sides of D can be aligned. Further, the document tray 102b of the document placing table 102 can be rotated upward about the hinge portion 102c as a rotation center. Similarly, the document discharge tray 109 has a hinge 10
9a can be rotated upward with the center of rotation.

Although not shown, the contact image sensor 108 includes an LED array as a light source, a SELFOC lens (trademark), a sensor element, and the like, and irradiates the image information surface of the original D from the LED array with light. The image information is read by forming an image of the reflected light reflected from the image information surface on the sensor element by a selfoc lens.

At the bottom of the apparatus main body 101, a claw separating type cassette feeding section 112 is provided. In this cassette 112a, the number of sheets that can be stacked is about 250 sheets,
This is a so-called front loading method that can be pulled out from the apparatus body 101 in the front direction.

In the cassette feeding section 112, the sheets P are stacked on a middle plate 112b in the feeding cassette 112a, and the middle plate 112b is urged upward by a middle plate spring 112c to be arranged upward. The upper surface and the leading end of the sheet are regulated by the separated claw 112d. When the semicircular feeding roller 112e rotates from this state, the uppermost sheet P is separated one by one by the separation claw 112d.
The sheet is conveyed to the resist conveying section 124 by the cassette conveying roller pair 112f.

The registration transport section 124 has a registration roller pair 124a, a registration sensor 124b and a TOP sensor 124c disposed before and after the registration roller pair 124a.
As a result, the leading end of the conveyed sheet P is detected.

Here, if the leading edge of the sheet P is not detected by the registration sensor 124b within a predetermined time after the feeding of the sheet is started, the control unit 120 determines that a jam has occurred, stops the recording operation, and performs an operation input. A jam display is performed on the unit 105. On the other hand, within a predetermined time after sheet feeding is started, the registration sensor 124b
When the leading edge of the sheet P is detected by the above, the sheet P is continuously pressed and conveyed by the cassette conveying roller pair 112f, and is guided to the pressure nip N of the registration roller pair 124a.

When the leading end of the sheet P reaches the pressure contact nip N, the registration roller pair 124a is controlled to be in a rotation stopped state by the control unit 120. The leading end of the sheet P abuts against the press-contact nip portion N of the registration roller pair 124a in the rotation stopped state and is received. After that, the sheet is fed by the cassette conveying roller pair 112f, so that the sheet P bends to some extent. A loop is formed, and the tip side of the sheet P is parallelized along the nip line of the press-contact nip portion N by the reaction force of the bending loop, whereby the skew of the sheet P is corrected. And
By driving the registration roller pair 124a at a predetermined control timing, conveyance of the sheet P whose skew has been corrected is started.

Next, the leading end position of the sheet P being conveyed is detected by the TOP sensor 124c, and the photosensitive drum 11
After the image output timing is adjusted so that the leading edge of the toner image formed on the sheet 1a coincides with the leading edge of the sheet P, the toner image is conveyed between the transfer charger 111f and the photosensitive drum 111a, and is transferred by the photosensitive drum 111a. Thus, an image is formed. Here, the image is stored in the feeding cassette 112a.
Is recorded on the lower surface side of the sheet P stacked on the sheet P.

In the facsimile apparatus, a multi-paper (MP) feeding section 125 for feeding various sheets in a friction piece separation system is disposed inside the printer main body 104. The MP feeding unit 125 stacks the sheets P on the fixed MP tray 125e. MP middle plate 125c
Is biased upward by the MP middle leaf spring 125d, but is pressed down by a cam (not shown) in the standby state.

The MP from the control unit 120 of the facsimile machine
When a signal for starting feeding is transmitted, a cam (not shown) rotates, and the released sheet P is pressed against the MP feeding roller 125a by releasing the pressing of the MP middle plate 125c, and the MP feeding is started. The sheets are separated and conveyed one by one by an MP separation pad 125b as a friction piece pressed against the feed roller 125a.

The operation after the sheet P is conveyed to the registration conveying section 124 is the same as the case where the sheet P is fed from the cassette feeding section 112, and an image is recorded on the lower surface side of the sheet P stacked on the MP tray 125e. Is done. MP feeding unit 125
The number of sheets that can be stacked is about 100. Because of the friction piece separation method, postcards and the like can be fed.

In the facsimile apparatus, a second cassette feeding unit (not shown) having the same configuration as the cassette feeding unit 112 can be mounted. The eye cassette feeding unit can be separated and combined as an option,
The number of sheets that can be stacked on the entire device is about 350 to about 60
It is possible to change up to 0 sheets. The sheet P conveyed from the second-stage cassette feeding unit is in a sheet path 1
The sheet is transported to the resist transport section 124 through 25f.

In the image recording unit 111, a desired pixel of the one-dimensional LED array 110a of the LED head unit 110 is caused to emit light based on an image signal output from the control unit 120, and is constituted by a selfoc lens (trademark). By irradiating the photosensitive drum 111a through the lens unit 110b to form image information on the surface of the photosensitive drum 111a, the image information is transferred onto the sheet P fed from the cassette feeding unit 112 to the image recording unit 111.

Here, the photosensitive drum 111a is integrally incorporated in the recording cartridge 111e together with the primary charger 111b, the developing roller 111c, the cleaning blade 111d, and the like. Recording cartridge 111e
Is detachably attached to the apparatus main body 101. The surface of the photosensitive drum 111a is uniformly charged by the primary charger 111b, and a one-dimensional LED is provided on the surface.
When the light from the array 110a is irradiated, a latent image is formed, and the latent image is visualized as a toner image by the toner supplied from the developing roller 111c.

Photosensitive drum 1 in image recording section 111
A transfer charger 111f is disposed opposite to 11a, and a thermal fixing device 111g is disposed on a sheet conveying path downstream of the photosensitive drum 111a.

After the toner image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 111a is transferred to the left side of FIG. 1 by the operation of the transfer charger 111f, the sheet P
1 is transported upward. The sheet P conveyed along the sheet conveying path 121 is conveyed to the conveying direction switching unit 123 after passing through the downstream fixing sensor 111h after the toner image is fixed by the thermal fixing unit 111g. Note that the fixing sensor 111h is used for jam detection and timing control in the image recording unit 111.

Connection section 11 between image reading section and printer main body
9, the sheet P is transported by the transport direction switching section 123.
In response to a signal from the control unit 120, the lower discharge flapper 123
a and the upper discharge flapper 123b are switched to change the traveling direction.
The document is conveyed to one of the double-sided conveyance unit 150 and the document discharge tray 109.

Here, the sheet P conveyed to any one of the recording sheet discharge unit 113, the double-sided conveyance unit 150, and the document discharge tray 109 is stacked at any position with the image information facing upward. Further, the recording sheet discharging unit 11
3, the stacked state of the sheets P stacked on any one of the intermediate tray 151 and the document discharge tray 109 is detected by the discharge tray sensor 113c, the intermediate tray sensor 151a, and the document discharge tray sensor 109b, and the output of each sensor is 120. , It can be determined whether or not the sheet P has been removed from each tray.

In this facsimile apparatus, the apparatus body 10
1 is provided with a cartridge cover 114 that can be opened and closed, and by opening the cartridge cover 114, the recording cartridge 111e is moved to the main assembly 10 of the apparatus.
1 can be pulled out and replaced. The cartridge cover 114 is provided with an interlock mechanism. When the cartridge cover 114 is open or the recording cartridge 111e is not set in the apparatus main body 101, the printer main body 104 does not operate. . If a jam occurs during recording of an image, the sheet P staying inside can be taken out by opening the cartridge cover 114.

Next, the operation during double-sided recording will be described. In the facsimile apparatus according to the embodiment, double-sided printing can be performed on a sheet. In this double-sided printing, image information on the back side of the sheet is recorded first, and then image information on the front side is recorded as follows. .

On the upper side of the printer main body 104, a double-sided conveying section 150 is disposed. For the sheet P that has passed through the thermal fixing device 111g, the lower discharge flapper 123a is switched based on a control signal output from the control section 120. By that
The sheet is transported to the duplex transport unit 150. The sheet P conveyed to the double-sided conveyance unit 150 is curled when heat and pressure are applied by the heat fixing unit 111g. After the curl is corrected by the curl removing roller pair 152, the sheet P is temporarily stacked. It is stacked on the intermediate tray 151 as a unit.
Then, when the recording of the image information of the predetermined number of back surfaces is completed and the sheets P are stacked on the intermediate tray 151, the stacked sheets P are conveyed to the image recording unit 111 as follows,
The surface image information is recorded on the sheet P.

As shown in FIG. 1, the curl removing roller pair 1
A re-feed unit 153 provided with a re-feed unit for re-feeding the sheets stacked on the intermediate tray 151 to the image recording unit 111 is provided below the lower part 52. The re-feeding unit 153 serves as a re-feeding unit, and a conveying belt unit 153b for conveying the sheet to the left side in FIG. 1 and a sheet positioned opposite thereto and returning the sheet in a direction opposite to the conveying direction of the conveying belt unit 153b. Roller 153a and a pair of intermediate conveyance rollers 154 that rotate as described above, and feed the sheets P stacked on the intermediate tray 153 in order from the lowest sheet while pulling in the conveyance belt unit 153b. Is separated by the separation roller 153a and the intermediate tray 15
3 back.

The sheet P fed from the refeed unit 153
Is transported by the intermediate transport roller pair 154 on the downstream side toward the registration sensor 124b and the registration roller pair 124a. Here, when the leading edge of the sheet P is detected by the registration sensor 124b within a predetermined time after the conveyance by the re-feed unit 153 is started, the conveyance by the intermediate conveyance roller pair 154 is continued, and the sheet P is It is guided to the press nip N of the registration roller pair 124a.
Thereafter, the recording operation is performed by the image recording unit 111 as described above. At this time, since the unrecorded surface of the sheet P comes into contact with the photosensitive drum 111a, the image is recorded on the second surface. Will be. The sheet on which the recording on the second side has been completed switches the lower discharge flapper 123 a based on a signal from the control unit 120, so that the recording sheet discharge unit 1 passes through the sheet discharge path 130.
13 are stacked on the 13 recording discharge trays 113a.

Here, the recording / discharging tray 113a can be rotated upward about the hinge 113b. Thus, the user can rotate the recording tray 113a upward and take out the sheet on the intermediate tray 151 disposed below the recording discharge tray 113a. Therefore, in this embodiment, the intermediate tray 15
1 can be used as a discharge tray.

According to the facsimile apparatus of this embodiment having the above-described configuration, the installation area of the apparatus is reduced, and the sheet on which the image is recorded by the image recording unit 111 is provided by the sheet discharge unit 113, the duplex conveying unit 150, Document output tray 10
9, the recording surface is always conveyed with the upper surface facing upward, so that it is easy to check the image on the sheet after recording, and the sheet is turned upside down. Intermediate tray 1 inside the main unit used for double-sided recording
51 can also be used as a discharge tray, and even when the intermediate tray 151 is used as a discharge tray, it is easy to confirm the presence or absence of a sheet and to take out a recorded sheet.

Further, since a recorded sheet can be stacked on the document discharge tray 109 or a document whose image has been read can be stacked on the recording discharge tray 113a, the read document can be loaded without providing an additional tray. It is possible to increase the number of bins to sort and record recorded sheets, and
A finite number of bins can be used effectively.

Next, a control system including a control unit 120 for controlling each unit of the facsimile machine will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG. In FIG. 3, reference numeral 301 denotes a CPU for controlling the entire facsimile apparatus.
11. RO for storing control program of MPU 311
M312, a RAM 313 used as a work area for various data processing and a temporary storage unit for image information, an image processing unit 314 for performing image scaling, resolution conversion, and the like.

The CPU 301 is provided with a calendar, a clock function, and the like. An area for storing important system setting information such as one-touch key destination information and software switch information in the RAM 313 is protected from an unexpected failure such as a power failure due to a battery backup. Is protected. The control system of the facsimile apparatus has a configuration in which the above-described CPU 301 and the following elements 302 to 310 are connected through an interface (not shown).

The operation unit 302 includes various key switches such as a numeric keypad 315, a function key 316, a one-touch key 317, a start key 318a, and a stop key 318b. The display unit 303 includes an LCD 319 for displaying various messages and various L for displaying transmission modes and the like.
The ED 320a includes a tally lamp 320b for notifying a distant operator of a communication state and occurrence of a failure, and the like.

The reading unit 304 includes a driving unit 3 such as a reading motor.
21, a reading sensor 322 for reading an image, an image processing unit 323 for shading and binarizing the read image,
It is composed of various sensors 324 and the like for detecting a document.

The recording unit 305 includes a driving unit 3 such as a recording motor.
25, a recording unit 326 for controlling a laser scanner or an electrophotographic process, an image processing unit 327 for smoothing an image to be recorded, various sensors 328 for detecting a recording sheet, and the like.

A communication control unit 306 as a communication unit performs outgoing calls, incoming calls, encoding of image data, and the like.
ODEM, connected to a connection unit 329 made of NCU, etc.,
Further, a communication network 307 and a handset 308 are connected to the connection unit 329. The external interface 309 is C
An interface for directly transmitting and receiving data from the PU 301, for example, RS-232C, SCSI, LAN
By connecting to an external computer 330 outside the apparatus by a connection method of an interface standard such as Ethernet (for example, Ethernet), the apparatus can be used as a scanner printer or the like of the external computer 330. HDD31
0 is used as a large-capacity nonvolatile memory for storing image information and the like. In this embodiment, image data storage for storing image information to be recorded by the image recording unit 111 as first image data is performed. It also functions as a means.

In this embodiment, when images of a plurality of pages are sequentially recorded on each sheet by the image recording unit 111, the RAM 313 as image data holding means is arranged so that the pages are arranged in order when sheets are stacked after image recording. Or HDD 310
After the images of all pages are once stored in the last page, the recording is started from the last page. In the case where the transmission partner or the external computer 330 can transmit image information from the last page when receiving a fax,
The page order of the image may be changed on the partner device or the external computer 330 side at the time of X reception, and the image recording unit 111 may record the image in the received page order on the device side.

Next, using the transport direction switching unit 123,
An operation when reading a recorded image on the recorded sheet P as second image data will be described.

The recorded sheet P is transferred to the lower discharge flapper 1
23a, the upper discharge flapper 123b is switched, a connection transport path A131 is connected as a third transport path connecting the image reading unit 103 and the printer main body 104, and further, the document flapper 106k is switched and the reading transport roller 10 is switched.
6h and the feeding roller 106f are driven to rotate in the reverse direction, so that the sheet is conveyed in the image reading unit 103 to the middle of the U-turn sheet path 106p as the first conveying path.

At this time, the recorded sheet P is read by the contact type image sensor 108 while being conveyed by the feeding roller 106f rotating in the reverse direction, and is further conveyed by the feeding roller 106f. Next, the conveyance direction of the sheet P is changed downward by the reverse feeding flapper 132 disposed at a branch portion between the U-turn sheet path 106p and the connection conveyance path B133 which is the fourth conveyance path.
Is transported into the connection transport path B133 as the transport path of the second path.
Thereafter, the connection conveyance roller 134 in the connection conveyance path B133 is connected.
, And returns to the sheet discharge path 130 as a second conveyance path at a junction 135. in this way,
In this embodiment, the sheet on which the image has been recorded is conveyed in a loop from the sheet discharge path 130 to the connection conveyance path A131 to the U-turn sheet path 106p to the connection conveyance path B133. Even when the surface is read by the contact image sensor 108, the recording surface of the sheet P does not turn upside down, and the contact image sensor 1
The discharge stacking can be performed in the same direction as when no reading was performed in step 08.

Further, since the lower discharge flapper 123a is arranged at a position closer to the recording sheet discharge unit 113 than the junction 135, when performing double-sided recording, one side of the sheet P is recorded by the image recording unit 111. After the recording surface is read as the second image data by the contact image sensor 108, the sheet P can be conveyed again to the image recording unit 111 via the re-feeding unit 153 to record the back surface. Thus, it can be confirmed whether the recorded image is normal for each surface.

Here, as described above, when the sheet is reversely fed and the recorded image is read as the second image data by the contact image sensor 108, the image read by the contact image sensor 108 is different from that when the original D is read. The main scanning direction is reversed. In this embodiment, the document D is set on the document table 102 with the image surface of the document D facing upward, and the separation roller 10
6b, the document is sequentially fed out from the upper document D, and the contact type image sensor 10
8, reading is performed on the left side of the document D.
Come to the front of 1. On the other hand, when recording on the sheet P, the leading end side of the sheet P is similarly treated as the leading end side of the image.

Then, the contact type image sensor 108
Since the image reading is performed based on the document D, the image of the document D is read on the front side of the apparatus main body 101 as the first bit of the main scanning image. On the other hand, when the recorded image of the sheet P is read by the close contact type image sensor 108, the right side of the sheet P is treated as the first bit of the main scanning image, so that the main scanning direction is in a mirror image state. Become.

In the present embodiment, in order to eliminate such a mirror image state, the image processing unit 323 described in FIG.
After performing the value conversion process, the comparison is performed after the main scanning data is bit-inverted using the line buffer. Note that this bit inversion is performed by 2 in the image processing unit 323.
It may be performed after the binarization process has been completed for one page and the image data has been developed on the RAM 313. When comparing images without inverting the image data itself, this fact is incorporated into the comparison conditions. A comparison may be made.

When the image reading unit 103 and the image recording unit 111 operate at the same time, for example, during a copy operation, the reservation of the image reading unit 103 is given priority, and after the images of all the originals D have been read, By performing recording in the recording unit 111, either the shared use of the contact image sensor 108 or the non-reading of the recorded sheet P is performed.

At this time, which control is performed is changed by setting based on operation of the function key 316, the one-touch key 317, or the like. For example, 1) the image reading is not performed after the image is recorded; 2) the image reading is prioritized; and the image recording is on standby. Make it work.

Here, in the case of setting 3), for example,
In the case of the copy operation in which the operator can confirm the recording surface of the recorded sheet P, the reading after the recording is not performed, or in other cases such as a combination of transmission reservation and reception output. In this case, the image recording may be put on standby with priority given to image reading. Note that the number of parameters of the software switch may be increased in order to further change the above setting.

The comparison between the first image data and the second image data and the determination as to whether normal image information is recorded on the recorded sheet P are performed in the same manner as in the conventional example.
What is necessary is just to compare and determine the image data with the timing of the sensor. In the present embodiment, since the image recording unit 111 is a so-called page printer, for comparison of image data, the image data is developed in the RAM 313 in page units, and comparison and determination are performed by software processing by the MPU 311.

If the free space of the RAM 313 is insufficient or if the processing capability of the MPU 311 is insufficient, processing of all image data of one page cannot be performed. After storing only an area (for example, 100 mm from the tip) in the RAM 313, the MPU 311 may perform comparison and determination.

In the facsimile apparatus according to the present embodiment, the above-described configuration allows the original sheet to pass through the recording process section of the image recording section 111 without contacting the recorded image information on the sheet. The image can be read by the image sensor 108. Therefore, the image recording unit 111
Is used for a long period of time and the recording process section such as the photosensitive drum 111a is stained, the original sheet is not stained, and the sheet recording process section of the image recording section 111 is not heated. Even when a sheet such as the fixing device 111g that applies a strong pressure to the sheet is included, it is possible to prevent the document sheet from being damaged and detect a recording failure of the image recording unit 111. It became. Further, in the facsimile apparatus of the present embodiment, double-sided recording can be performed without increasing the width of the apparatus.

(Second Embodiment) Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.
The embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

The facsimile apparatus of the second embodiment shown in FIG. 4 is different from the first embodiment in that
3 and the configuration of the connecting portion 119 are different. Hereinafter, the first
Components having the same functions as those of the embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted as appropriate.

The difference from the first embodiment will be described. In the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, in the image reading unit 103, the first transporting unit in which the contact type image sensor 108 is disposed is used. U-turn seat path 1 as a route
On the downstream side of 06p (the right side in FIG. 4), a white roller (reading white roller) 106n is arranged, and above it, a second image sensor 106m is arranged.
Images of both the front surface and the back surface of the sheet passing through the U-turn sheet path 106p are read by the contact image sensor 108 and the second image sensor 106m, respectively.

The connection transport path B, which is the fourth transport path,
133 and the image recording unit 1 as the second transport path
In the first embodiment, the junction with the sheet discharge path 130 from FIG. 11 branches downward as shown in FIG. 1, whereas in the second embodiment it is shown in FIG. As described above, a flapper (hereinafter, referred to as a lowermost flapper) 136 is disposed at the junction 137. The lowermost flapper 136 (not shown) guides the conveying direction of the sheet, on which an image is recorded by the image recording unit 111 and passes through the sheet discharging path 130, to either the upper discharging flapper 123b side or the connection conveying path B133 side. It is switched by a solenoid or the like.

The second image sensor 106m is a unit equivalent to the close contact type image sensor 108, and is mounted with the left and right reversed. The second image sensor 106m is supported by a guide member (not shown) so as to be movable in the vertical direction, and is urged toward the reading white roller 106n by its own weight and an urging spring (not shown). It is possible to contact the upper surface. In the image reading section 103 of the present embodiment having such a configuration, both sides of the document D can be read at the same time.

Next, the operation of reading an image on a recorded sheet P using the transport direction switching unit 123 in the second embodiment will be described.

The recorded sheet P on which an image has been recorded by the image recording section 111 is connected and conveyed as a fourth conveying path for connecting the image recording section 111 and the image reading section 103 by switching the lowermost flapper 136. It is carried into the road B133. The recorded sheet P is then transferred to the connection conveyance path B13.
3 is transported upward by the connection transport roller 134 disposed in the U-turn sheet path 11 which is the first transport path.
6p, and passes through the junction 137, where the image reading unit 1
03. At this time, since the recorded sheet P is conveyed with the recording surface facing upward, the image information on the recording surface is read by the second image sensor 106m. At this time, the image data of the MPU 311 is read by the MPU 311 as described above. A comparison is made. Subsequently, the recorded sheet P is conveyed to the connection conveyance path A131 as a third conveyance path by switching the document flapper 106k after reading, and is conveyed to the recording sheet discharge unit 113 by switching the upper discharge flapper 123b.

Next, an operation when double-sided recording is performed by the image recording unit 111 in the second embodiment will be described. First, the sheet P on which image recording is performed on one side by the image recording unit 111 is placed on the lowermost flapper 136 and the lower flapper 12.
By switching to 3a, the sheet P is sent again to the image recording unit 111 via the double-sided conveyance unit 150, as in the first embodiment, so that image recording on the second surface of the sheet P is performed. Next, the sheet P on which images are recorded on both sides is transferred to the image recording unit 111 by switching the lowermost flapper 136.
Is transported to a connection transport path B133 as a fourth transport path connecting the image reading unit 103 and the image reading unit 103, and the image information on both sides of the sheet P is read by the contact image sensor 108 and the second image sensor 106m. Next, the image data is compared by the MPU 311 as described above. Subsequently, the recorded sheet P is conveyed to the connection conveyance path A131 as a third conveyance path by switching the document flapper 106k, and the recording sheet discharge unit is switched by the upper discharge flapper 123b, as in the case of single-sided recording. 11
3 is carried.

With this operation, in the present embodiment, even in the case of double-sided recording, the image information on the recorded sheet P needs to be read only once, so that the image recording is performed efficiently. Also, during image recording on both sides and subsequent image reading, there is no common part in the conveyance path of the sheet P, and there is no need to avoid contact with the sheet P to be recorded next in the common part. Can be efficiently recorded when image recording is performed by successively transporting the images.

Also in this embodiment, the sheet P on which an image has been recorded is conveyed in a loop from the connection conveyance path B133 to the downstream side of the U-turn sheet path 116p to the connection conveyance path A131. Even when the recording surface is read by the unit 103, the recording surface of the sheet P is not turned upside down, and the sheets can be discharged and stacked in the same direction as when the reading is not performed.

Also in this embodiment, the original sheet does not pass through the recording process section of the image recording section 111, and the image information on the recorded sheet is detected by the contact type image sensor 108 and the second image sensor 106m. It is possible to read. For this reason, even when the image recording unit 111 has been used for a long time and the recording process unit such as the photosensitive drum 111a is stained, the original sheet will not be stained. Even if the sheet recording process unit includes the thermal fixing unit 111g that applies a strong pressure to the sheet, the original sheet is prevented from being damaged and the recording failure of the image recording unit 111 is detected. It became possible. Further, in the facsimile apparatus of the present embodiment, double-sided recording can be performed without increasing the width of the apparatus.

In each of the embodiments described above, an example has been described in which the present invention is applied to a facsimile apparatus. However, the present invention may be applied to other image recording apparatuses such as a scanner printer and a digital copying machine.

The image recording method may be other electrophotographic methods such as a laser beam method, or may be, for example, an ink jet method other than the electrophotographic method.

Further, another tray may be additionally provided for performing the sort copy. Further, the present invention can be applied to an apparatus in which the recording surface is facing upward and is not stacked.

[0083]

As described above, according to the image reading / recording apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to read the image information on the recorded sheet, and it becomes possible for the dirt or the like to adhere to the recording process section of the image recording section. The original sheet will not become dirty, and even if the recording process unit contains components such as a heat fuser that applies strong pressure to the sheet, the original sheet may be damaged. Without receiving
In addition, it is possible to detect a recording failure of the image recording unit.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a first embodiment of an image forming apparatus (facsimile apparatus) to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the facsimile apparatus according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a control system of the facsimile apparatus according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of a facsimile apparatus according to a second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

P sheet D document (document sheet) 101 main body 102 document placing table 102a slider 102b document tray 102c hinge section 103 image reading section 104 printer body 105 operation input section 106 document transport section 106a separation pad 106b separation roller 106c separation conveyance roller 106d separation Conveying roller 106e Feeding roller 106f Feeding roller 106g Reading / conveying roller 106h Reading / conveying roller 106i Discharging roller 106j Discharging roller 106k Document flapper 106m Second image sensor 106n Reading white roller 106p U-turn sheet path (first conveying path) 107 Document Pressing unit 108 Contact image sensor (image reading unit) 109 Document ejection tray (document ejection unit) 110 LED head unit 110a One-dimensional LED array 111 Image recording unit 111a Photoreceptor drum 111b Primary charger 111c Developing roller 111d Cleaning blade 111e Recording cartridge 111f Transfer charger 111g Thermal fixing unit 112 Cassette feeding unit (sheet feeding means) 112a Feeding cassette 112b Middle plate 112c Middle plate Spring 112d Separating claw 112e Feeding roller 112f Cassette transport roller pair N pressure contact nip part 113 Recording sheet discharge part 113a Recording discharge tray 113b Hinge part 113c Discharge tray sensor 113d Discharge roller (sheet discharge means) 114 Cartridge cover part 115 ADF (automatic document) Feeder) cover 116 outer document guide 117 document holding plate 118 inner document guide 119 connection section (control means) 120 control section 121 sheet transport path 122 light cover 123 Transport direction switching unit 123a Lower discharge flapper 123b Upper discharge flapper 124 Registration transport unit 124a Registration roller pair 124b Registration sensor 124c TOP sensor 125 MP (multi-paper) feeding unit (sheet feeding unit) 130 Sheet discharge path (second (Conveyance path) 131 Connection conveyance path A (third conveyance path) 132 Reverse flapper 133 Connection conveyance path B (Fourth conveyance path) 134 Connection conveyance roller 135 Junction point 137 Junction point 150 Double-sided conveyance unit (sheet reversing conveyance means) ) 151 Intermediate tray (intermediate stacking unit) 151a Intermediate tray sensor 152 Curling roller pair 153 Re-feed unit (Re-feed unit) 153a Separation roller 153b Transport belt unit 154 Intermediate transport roller pair 301 CPU 302 Operating unit 303 Display unit 304 Reading unit 305 Recording unit 306 Communication control unit (communication unit) 307 Communication network 308 Handset 309 CPU external interface 310 HDD (image data holding unit) 311 MPU (comparison unit, determination unit) 312 ROM 313 RAM (image data holding unit) 314 Image processing Unit 315 Numeric keys 316 Function keys 317 One-touch key 318a Start key 318b Stop key 319 LCD 320a Various LEDs 320b Tally lamp 321 Drive unit 322 Reading sensor 323 Image processing unit 324 Various sensors 325 Drive unit 326 Recording unit 327 Image processing unit 328 Connection part 330 External computer

Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat II (Reference) G03G 21/00 370 G03G 21/00 370 5C072 510 510 5C074 H04N 1/04 107 H04N 1/04 107B 1/23 1/23 Z F term (reference) 2H027 DA09 DB01 DE02 DE07 HA10 2H076 AA58 BA18 BA87 BA94 BB10 3F048 AA02 AA04 AB01 BA10 BB02 BB09 BC09 DC12 3F100 AA01 BA11 CA11 CA13 CA15 DA01 DA08 DA09 EA03 EA13 5C062 AA02 AB02 AA02 AB01 XA01 5C074 AA07 BB02 CC22 CC25 CC26 EE08 HH02

Claims (9)

[Claims] An image data holding unit capable of holding image information to be recorded as first image data; an image recording unit recording the first image data held by the image data holding unit on a sheet; An image recording unit having a sheet feeding unit for feeding a sheet to the image recording unit, and a sheet discharging unit for discharging a sheet on which an image has been recorded by the image recording unit; and a document sheet loaded on a document loading table. An image reading unit that feeds the document sheet one by one, reads image information on the document sheet by an image reading unit disposed on the first transport path, and discharges the read document sheet to a document discharge unit. An image reading and recording apparatus comprising: a second transport path for transporting a recorded sheet from the image recording unit to the sheet discharging unit; Said A third transport path for transporting the sheet to the first transport path, and a fourth transport path for transporting the recorded sheet transported to the first transport path to the second transport path, The recorded sheet recorded by the image recording means is stored in the third
The image information on the recorded sheet conveyed to the first conveyance path via the conveyance path is read as second image data by the image reading means. Control means for controlling the recorded sheet to be conveyed again to the second conveyance path via the fourth conveyance path, and to be conveyed to the sheet discharge means; and the first image data. Comparing means for comparing the second image data with the second image data; and determining means for determining whether or not normal image information is recorded on the recorded sheet based on a comparison result of the comparing means. An image reading and recording apparatus characterized by the above-mentioned. 2. An image recording apparatus comprising: a communication unit that receives an image signal from an image communication device outside the device; wherein the image recording unit of the image recording unit converts the image data based on the image signal received by the communication unit into the first image data. 2. The image reading and recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image is recorded on a sheet as one image data. 3. The image recording unit according to claim 2, wherein the sheet reversing / conveying unit for reversing the front and back of the sheet and supplying the sheet to the image recording unit again without sending the recorded sheet to the sheet discharging unit. A branch point from the fourth transport path connected to the second transport path, wherein a branch point from the second transport path to a path toward the sheet reversing transport unit is provided; 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the position is closer to the sheet discharge means than the confluence point.
Or the image reading and recording apparatus according to 2. 4. The image reading unit has two image reading units for reading images on both sides of a sheet, and transfers the sheet on which the image of the first surface is recorded by the image recording unit to the sheet reversing conveyance unit. Again, the sheet is conveyed to the image recording unit, and after the image of the first side of the sheet is recorded by the image recording unit, the sheet is conveyed to the first conveyance path, and the sheet is conveyed by the image reading unit. 4. The image reading and recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein reading of the image on both sides is performed. 5. An intermediate stacking unit for temporarily stacking a recorded sheet so as to reverse the front and back of the recorded sheet and supply the inverted sheet to the image recording unit again, and stacks the intermediate stacking unit on the intermediate stacking unit. Re-feeding means for supplying the recording sheet to the image recording unit again, wherein the sheet discharging means is disposed at an upper portion of the apparatus, the intermediate stacking part is disposed immediately below the sheet discharging means, and 5. The document discharging section is disposed above the sheet discharging means.
The image reading and recording apparatus according to the above. 6. A substantially loop-shaped transport path is formed by connecting the second transport path, the first transport path, the third transport path, and the fourth transport path. The image reading and recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein: 7. The direction in which the recorded sheet conveyed to the first conveyance path passes through the image reading means, and the image reading means is used to read a document sheet loaded on the document loading table. When the direction in which the document sheet passes is the opposite direction, the comparing means reverses the main scanning direction of the second image data to a mirror image state and performs comparison with the first image data. The image reading and recording apparatus according to claim 1. 8. An image reading unit for reading an image on a sheet,
An image recording unit that is disposed below the image reading unit and records an image on a sheet; and a connection unit that connects the image reading unit and the image recording unit. Image reading means to be read, a first conveyance path in which the image reading means is arranged, sheet conveyance means arranged in the first conveyance path and capable of conveying sheets in forward and reverse directions, and the first conveyance path And a sheet discharge tray disposed at a subsequent stage, wherein the image recording unit is disposed at a stage subsequent to the image recording unit and an image recording unit that records an image on a sheet, and is image-recorded by the image recording unit. And a second transport path for discharging the discharged sheet out of the apparatus, wherein the connection portion is located downstream of the second transport path and the first transport path.
A third transport path connecting the downstream side of the transport path of
A fourth transport path connecting an upstream side of the first transport path and an upstream side of the second transport path, wherein a sheet on which an image is recorded by the image recording unit is the third transport path An image reading unit that reads an image by an image reading unit and sequentially discharges the image to the outside of the apparatus via the first transport path and the fourth transport path. 9. An image reading unit for reading an image on a sheet,
An image recording unit that is disposed below the image reading unit and records an image on a sheet, and has a connection unit that connects the image reading unit and the image recording unit. Two image reading means for reading an image, a first conveyance path in which the image reading means is arranged, a sheet conveyance means capable of conveying a sheet in the first conveyance path, and the first conveyance path A sheet discharge tray disposed at a stage subsequent to the path, wherein the image recording unit is disposed at a stage subsequent to the image recording unit and an image recording unit that records an image on a sheet, and the image recording unit performs image recording by the image recording unit. A second transport path for discharging the discharged sheet to the outside of the apparatus, wherein the connection portion is located downstream of the second transport path and the first transport path.
A third transport path connecting the downstream side of the transport path of
A fourth transport path that connects an upstream side of the first transport path and an upstream side of the second transport path, wherein a sheet on which an image has been recorded by the image recording unit has a fourth transport path; An image reading and recording apparatus wherein an image is read by an image reading means and discharged outside the apparatus via the first transport path and the third transport path sequentially.