JP2002330242A - Image processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image processor, with which the utilization of a manual tray or free cassette can be promoted. SOLUTION: When a manual tray 73 is selected after copying is normally finished, it is judged whether a recording paper size stored on a RAM 13 as a recording paper size of the manual tray 73 at present is matched with an original size read by a reading part 14 or not. When both the sizes are matched and there is a recording paper 76 in the manual tray 73, the original size read by the reading part 14 is stored on the RAM 13 as a size of recording paper placed in the manual tray 73. Thus, even when utilizing the manual tray 73, it is not necessary to set the size of recording paper placed in the manual tray 73 from an operating part 16. Therefore, the utilization of the manual tray 73 can be promoted.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus such as a printer or a facsimile machine with a copying function (hereinafter, referred to as a multifunction machine). The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus having characteristics in setting.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when a desired recording paper is placed on a manual feed tray and a manual feed tray is selected from an operation unit, image data on a document read by a reading unit is mounted on the manual feed tray. It can be recorded on recording paper. That is, when the recording paper is placed on the manual feed tray, the recording paper size is input from the operation unit based on the recording paper presence / absence sensor that detects that the recording paper is loaded on the manual feed tray. Is displayed on the display unit. Based on this message,
When a recording paper size is input from the operation unit, the input recording paper size is stored. When the start key is operated, the reading unit reads the image data on the document. As a result, when the document size matches the recording paper size, the image data read by the reading unit is recorded on the recording paper placed on the manual feed tray. On the other hand, if the document size and the recording paper size do not match, only one read image data is recorded on the recording paper, and the display unit indicates that the document size does not match the recording paper size. It displayed and alerted the ringing sound.

[0003]

Therefore, when using the manual feed tray, the recording paper size must be set from the operation section without fail, so that it is troublesome to use the manual feed tray. As a result, the use of the manual feed tray has also been reduced. Note that such a problem is not limited to the manual feed tray, and also occurs when a free cassette is used.

The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and an object thereof is to provide an image processing apparatus capable of promoting the use of a manual feed tray or a free cassette. is there.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a recording paper storage means capable of placing or storing recording papers of various sizes is provided. Storage means for storing the size of the recording paper placed or accommodated, recording means for recording data on the recording paper, and data size after recording the data on the recording paper accommodated in the recording paper accommodation means by the recording means. Control means for judging the document size of the data based on the data size and storing the document size in the storage means as the size of the recording paper placed or stored in the recording paper storage means.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image processing apparatus according to the first aspect, the control means records the data on the recording paper accommodated in the recording paper accommodation means by the recording means and then stores the data in the recording paper accommodation means. If there is recording paper in the means, the size of the data document is determined based on the size of the data, and the document size is stored in the storage means as the size of the recording paper placed or stored in the recording paper storage means.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image processing apparatus according to the first or second aspect, the image processing apparatus further includes a detecting unit for detecting a length of the recording sheet, and the control unit detects the length of the recording sheet. Based on whether the length of the recording paper matches the length of the original size based on the size of the data,
It is determined whether or not the operation of the recording means has ended normally.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment in which an image processing apparatus according to the present invention is embodied in a multifunction peripheral will be described below with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, the multifunction device 1 includes an MPU 1
1, ROM 12, RAM 13, reading unit 14, recording unit 1
5, an operation unit 16, a display unit 17, an image memory 18, a codec 19, a modem 20, an NCU 21, and an interface 22. Each of the units 11 to 22 is connected via a bus 23.

The MPU 11 controls each unit constituting the multifunction device 1. The ROM 12 stores a program for controlling the MFP 1. The RAM 13 temporarily stores various information related to the multifunction peripheral 1. Specifically, the operation unit 16
The size of the recording paper placed or stored in the manual feed tray or free cassette is stored based on the input from. Also, RAM
Reference numeral 13 includes a queue 13a for storing a job based on a print instruction. When a job is registered in the queue 13a, the job is automatically executed until the printing of the job is completed unless the job is deleted.
When the printing of the job is completed, the job is automatically deleted from the queue 13a.

The reading section 14 reads image data on a document and outputs black and white binary image data. In addition,
The width of the document is determined based on the number of pixels in the main scanning direction in the read image data, and the length of the document is determined based on the number of reading lines in the sub-scanning direction in the read image data. Therefore, after reading the original, the original size is specified.

The recording unit 15 is composed of an electrophotographic printer, and records received image data or image data of a document read by the reading unit 14 on recording paper in a recording operation or a copying operation of received image data. I do.

Here, a specific configuration of the recording unit 15 will be described in detail according to a recording process. The photoconductor drum 30 is rotatably supported on a shaft, and a photoconductive film 31 is formed on an outer peripheral surface thereof.

The charger 40 is composed of a brush roller on which a conductive brush is implanted. The charger 40 uniformly charges the photoconductive film 31 of the photosensitive drum 30 to a predetermined potential.
The exposure device 50 is configured by an LED array 51. The exposing unit 50 irradiates the photoconductive film 31 of the photoconductor drum 30 with light based on the data binarized by the codec 19 to form an electrostatic latent image.

The developing unit 60 includes a toner case 61 for storing toner, a supply roller 62 disposed below the toner case 61 and supplied with a predetermined voltage, the supply roller 62 and the photosensitive drum 30. And a developing roller 63 that is disposed at the lower end opening of the toner case 61 and is supplied with a predetermined voltage. The toner conveyed from the toner case 61 by the supply roller 62 and the developing roller 63 and charged to a predetermined polarity changes the applied polarity and the potential of the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 30. Is selectively attached to the same electrostatic latent image. A toner image is formed on the photosensitive drum 30 by the toner attached to the electrostatic latent image.

A stirring body 64 is rotatably supported in the toner case 61. By the rotation of the stirring body 64, the toner in the toner case 61 is constantly stirred, and the toner is maintained at a uniform density. A toner sensor 65 for detecting the presence or absence of toner is provided at the bottom of the toner case 61.
Are arranged.

The first and second recording paper cassettes 71 and 72 and the manual feed tray 73 have recording papers 74 to 76 of a predetermined size.
Are stored in a stacked state. The half-moon rollers 77 and 78 and the paper feed roller 79 are connected to the first and second recording paper cassettes 7.
The uppermost recording papers 74 to 76 stacked on the manual trays 1 and 72 and the manual feed tray 73 are fed out one by one. Then, the sent recording papers 74 to 76 are conveyed toward the photosensitive drum 30.

The first and second recording paper sensors 81, 82
The recording paper 74 immediately after being sent out from the first and second recording paper cassettes 71 and 72 by the half-moon rollers 77 and 78,
75 is detected.

The third recording paper sensor 83 includes recording papers 74 to 74 conveyed to a predetermined position immediately before the developing unit 60.
76 is detected. The third recording paper sensor 83 detects the leading and trailing ends of the recording papers 74 to 76 and detects the recording papers 74 to 76.
The length 76 in the transport direction is detected. Note that the dashed line P
Indicates a transport path of the recording papers 74 to 76.

The transfer unit 90 is provided below the photosensitive drum 30, and is controlled to a predetermined potential. Then, the transfer device 90
Indicates that the toner image on the photosensitive drum 30 is to be recorded on the recording paper 74 to 7 based on the difference between the predetermined potential and the potential of the toner image.
Transfer onto 6

The memory removing brush 91 is made of a conductive brush, and disturbs the toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 30 after the transfer and uniformly distributes the toner on the photosensitive drum 30.
The heat fixing device 100 is disposed on the recording paper sending side of the photosensitive drum 30, and the recording papers 74 to 76 are
Is fed between the heating roller 101 and the pressure roller 102 to heat and fix the toner images on the recording papers 74 to 76. In the present embodiment, the above-described series of processes of charging the photosensitive drum 30, exposing, developing, transferring to the recording papers 74 to 76, and heating and fixing is one unit of the recording process.

The fourth recording paper sensor 84 is connected to the heat fixing unit 10.
It is disposed on the recording paper sending side of No. 0 and detects that the recording papers 74 to 76 have passed through the heat fixing device 100. The recording paper presence / absence sensor 85 detects whether the recording paper is placed on the manual feed tray 73 or not.

The control section 110 controls each section constituting the recording section 15. That is, the control section 110 sends the data binarized by the codec 19 to the exposure device 50. On the other hand, the control unit 110 includes first to fourth recording paper sensors 81 to
A detection signal indicating the arrival of the recording paper 74 to 76 from 84 and a detection signal indicating the length of the recording paper are sent from the third recording paper sensor 83. Further, a detection signal indicating whether or not the recording paper is placed on the manual feed tray 73 is sent from the recording paper presence / absence sensor 85 to the control unit 110. Further, a detection signal indicating the presence or absence of toner is sent from the toner sensor 65 to the control unit 110.

The operation unit 16 includes numeric keys (including * and # keys) for inputting a telephone number and the like, registration of abbreviated numbers, abbreviated keys for transmitting from abbreviated numbers, and an operation for starting an original reading operation. Start key, "Communication (FA
X) Communication for setting "operation" or "copy" operation /
Various operation keys such as a copy key and an image quality setting key for setting the image quality at the time of reading to “standard”, “high image quality”, and “ultra high image quality” are provided. Display unit 1 such as LCD
Reference numeral 7 displays various information indicating the operation state of the multifunction peripheral 1 and the like. Further, the display unit 17 includes a speaker 17a that sounds a predetermined sound.

The image memory 18 temporarily stores the received image data and the image data read by the reading unit 14, binarized, and compression-encoded by the codec 19. The codec 19 encodes the image data read by the reading unit 14 for transmission according to the MH, MR, MMR method, or the like. The codec 19 decodes the received image data.

The modem 20 complies with ITU-T Recommendation T.30. 30 based on a facsimile transmission control procedure according to V.30. 1
7, V. 27ter, V.A. Modulation and demodulation of transmission / reception data in accordance with any one of E.29 and the like. The NCU 21 has a function of controlling connection with the telephone line L and detecting transmission and reception of a dial signal corresponding to the telephone number of the other party.

The interface 22 controls the multifunction device 1 and the personal computer 2 via the communication network T based on a TCP / IP communication protocol or the like. next,
The image data of the document read by the reading unit 14 is stored in the manual feed tray 7.
The operation when copying on the recording paper 76 placed on the recording paper 3 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. This operation is executed under the control of the MPU 11 based on the program stored in the ROM 12 (the same applies to the operation of the multifunction peripheral 1).

When the recording paper 76 is placed on the manual feed tray 73 and a document is placed on the reading unit 14, the manual feed tray 73 is selected, and the start key is operated.
In step S1, it is determined whether there is a job (copy job) based on a print instruction from the operation unit 16. Specifically, whether or not there is a job is determined based on whether or not the job has been registered in the queue 13a. When the job is registered in the queue 13a, the process proceeds to step S2.

In step S2, it is determined whether the copying has been completed normally. Specifically, the reading unit 14
And the third recording paper sensor 8
It is determined whether or not copying has been normally completed based on whether or not the length of the recording paper 76 based on the detection signal from No. 3 matches. If the copying has been completed normally, the process proceeds to step S4. On the other hand, if copying is not completed normally, for example,
If the length is different, the process proceeds to step S3.

In step S3, a message that copying has not been completed normally is displayed on the display unit 17, and
A ringing tone notifying that copying has not been completed normally is emitted from the speaker 17a, and the process ends.

In step S4, it is determined whether the manual feed tray 73 has been selected at the time of copying. If the manual tray 73 has been selected, the process proceeds to step S5. On the other hand, if the manual tray 73 has not been selected, this process ends.

In step S5, it is determined whether or not the recording sheet size currently stored in the RAM 13 as the recording sheet size of the manual feed tray 73 matches the document size read by the reading unit 14. . That is, the reading unit 14 determines the width of the document based on the number of pixels in the main scanning direction in the read image data. Further, the length of the original is determined based on the number of read lines in the sub-scanning direction in the read image data. Therefore, after reading the original, the original size is specified. If they match, the process ends. That is, since the recording paper size of the manual feed tray 73 is currently stored in the RAM 13 as the recording paper size of the manual feed tray 73, there is no need to store it again. As a result, this process ends. On the other hand, if they do not match, the process moves to step S6.

In step S6, it is determined based on the detection signal from the recording paper presence / absence sensor 85 whether or not the recording paper 76 is present on the manual feed tray 73. If there is a recording sheet 76 in the manual feed tray 73, the process proceeds to step S7. On the other hand, if there is no recording paper 76 in the manual feed tray 73, this process ends.

In step S7, the size of the document read by the reading unit 14 is stored in the RAM 13 as the size of the recording sheet placed on the manual feed tray 73. The size of the document is determined based on the size of the image data obtained by expanding the image data of the document read by the reading unit 14, and the size of the document is determined as the size of the recording paper placed on the manual feed tray 73 in the RAM 13. It may be configured to store.

Next, an operation for recording data (image data, character data, etc.) transmitted from the personal computer 2 connected to the communication network T in the multifunction device 1, that is, an operation for network printing will be described. 2 will be described using a flowchart.

In step S11, it is determined whether there is a job (network print job) based on a print instruction from the personal computer 2. Specifically, whether or not there is a job is determined based on whether or not the job has been registered in the queue 13a. And the queue 13a
If the job is registered in step S12, the process proceeds to step S12.

In step S12, it is determined whether the printing has been completed normally. Specifically, the length of the image data obtained by expanding the data transmitted from the personal computer 2 and the length of the recording paper 76 in the transport direction based on the detection signal from the third recording paper sensor 83 are equal to one another. Based on whether or not the printing has been completed, it is determined whether or not the printing has been normally completed. The length of the recording paper 76 in the transport direction is determined in consideration of expansion and contraction of the recording paper based on changes in humidity and the like.
An error range (several millimeters) is allowed. If the printing has been completed normally, the process proceeds to step S14. On the other hand, if printing is not completed successfully,
For example, when the length of the image data is different from the length of the recording paper 76, the process proceeds to step S13.

In step S13, a message indicating that the printing is not normally completed is displayed on the display unit 17, and a sound for notifying that the printing is not normally completed is sounded from the speaker 17a. The process ends.

In step S14, it is determined whether or not the manual feed tray 73 has been selected during network printing. If the manual feed tray 73 has been selected, the process proceeds to step S15. On the other hand, if the manual tray 73 has not been selected, this process ends.

In step S15, the recording paper size currently stored in the RAM 13 as the recording paper size of the manual feed tray 73 matches the size of the image data obtained by expanding the data sent from the personal computer 2. Is determined. If they match, this process ends. That is, the recording paper size of the manual feed tray 73 is currently set to R
Since it is stored in the AM 13, there is no need to store it again. As a result, this process ends. On the other hand, if they do not match, the process moves to step S16.

In step S16, it is determined based on the detection signal from the recording paper presence / absence sensor 85 whether or not the recording paper 76 is present in the manual feed tray 73. Hand tray 73
If there is a recording sheet 76, the process proceeds to step S17. On the other hand, when there is no recording paper 76 in the manual feed tray 73,
This processing ends.

In step S17, the PDL (Page Description Language) sent from the personal computer 2
The recording paper size specified in () is stored in the RAM 13 as the recording paper size placed on the manual feed tray 73.
The document size is determined based on the size of the image data obtained by expanding the data transmitted from the personal computer 2, and the document size is stored in the RAM 13 as the size of the recording paper placed on the manual feed tray 73. It may be configured.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the following operations and effects can be obtained. (1) If the manual feed tray 73 has been selected after the copying has been completed normally, the recording paper size currently stored in the RAM 13 as the recording paper size of the manual feed tray 73,
It is determined whether or not the document size read by the reading unit 14 matches. Then, in the case where they match, and when the recording paper 76 is in the manual feed tray 73,
The document size read by the reading unit 14 is
Is stored in the RAM 13 as the size of the recording paper placed in the. Therefore, even when the manual feed tray 73 is used, there is no need to set the size of the recording paper placed on the manual feed tray 73 from the operation unit 16. Therefore, the use of the manual feed tray 73 can be promoted. Similarly, in the case of network printing from the personal computer 2, the use of the manual feed tray 73 can be promoted.

(2) Copying is performed based on whether or not the length of the document read by the reading unit 14 and the length of the recording paper 76 based on the detection signal from the third recording paper sensor 83 match. It is determined whether or not the processing has been completed normally. As a result, if the copy is not completed normally, the document size is set as the recording paper size of the manual feed tray 73 and the
13 is not stored.

The above embodiment can be embodied with the following modifications. As shown in FIG. 1, a configuration may be adopted in which the manual feed tray 73 is provided with a recording paper width sensor 120 for detecting the width of the recording paper 76. With this configuration, since the width of the recording paper 76 is specified in advance, it is determined based on the width and length of the document size and the width and length of the recording paper size whether or not both sizes match. be able to. PC 2
It is possible to determine whether or not the size of the image data matches the recording paper size based on the width and length of the image data obtained by expanding the data from and the width and length of the recording paper size. Therefore, in steps S2 and S12 shown in FIG. 2, it can be more accurately determined whether or not copying or printing has been completed normally.

At the end of copying or network printing, the recording paper 76 placed on the manual feed tray 73
Regardless of the presence or absence, the size of the original at the time of copying or the size of the image data at the time of network printing is used as the size of the recording paper placed on the manual feed tray 73.
A configuration in which the information is stored in the RAM 13 may be adopted.

In the above embodiment, the case of the manual feed tray 73 has been described. However, the present invention may be applied to a free cassette capable of storing recording paper of various sizes. The above-described embodiment may be applied to a printer including the manual feed tray 73, the free cassette, and the like.

The above-described embodiment is applied to a case where image data of a document read by the reading unit 14 such as a copy is recorded, and a case where data transmitted from the personal computer 2 is recorded. You may apply also when recording.

Further, technical ideas grasped from the above embodiment will be described below together with their effects. [1] The image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising: reading means for reading data on a document, wherein the recording paper storage means detects a width of the recording paper. The control means includes means for recording the data on the recording paper accommodated in the recording paper accommodation means by the recording means, and then setting the size of the original read by the reading means to the recording paper placed or accommodated in the recording paper accommodation means. An image processing apparatus that stores the size of the document read by the reading unit as the size of the recording paper placed or stored in the recording paper storage unit when the size matches the size; With such a configuration, the size of the recording paper stored in the recording paper storage means is automatically stored in the storage means, so that the use of the recording paper storage means can be promoted.

[2] In the image processing apparatus according to the above [1], after the control means records the data on the recording paper accommodated in the recording paper accommodation means by the recording means, the control means adjusts the size of the original read by the reading means. In the case where the size matches the size of the recording paper placed or accommodated in the recording paper storage means, and there is recording paper in the recording paper storage means, the original size read by the reading means is placed on the recording paper storage means or An image processing device that stores the size of the recording paper accommodated. With this configuration,
Since the recording paper size stored in the recording paper storage means is automatically stored in the storage means, the use of the recording paper storage means can be promoted.

[0051]

Since the present invention is configured as described above, it has the following effects. According to the first or second aspect of the present invention, the size of the recording paper accommodated in the recording paper accommodation means is automatically stored in the storage means, so that the use of the recording paper accommodation means can be promoted. it can.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, when the length of the recording paper detected by the detecting means coincides with the length of the document size based on the data size, the recording paper is stored in the recording paper storing means. Since the size of the stored recording paper is automatically stored in the storage unit, the use of the recording paper storage unit can be promoted.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a communication network and a multifunction peripheral.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation at the time of copying and an operation at the time of network printing.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Multifunction machine as an image processing apparatus, 11 ... MPU which comprises a control means, 12 ... ROM which comprises a control means, 13
... RAM constituting control means and storage means, 14: reading section as reading means, 15 ... recording section as recording means,
73: manual feed tray (free cassette) as recording paper storage means; 83, third recording paper sensor as detection means, 1
Reference numeral 20 denotes a recording paper width sensor as a recording paper width detecting means.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2H027 DB09 DC10 DC18 DC19 EE08 FA15 ZA07 3F063 AA01 AC03 AD02 CA09 CD07 3F343 FA02 FB02 FB04 GA03 GB01 GC01 GD01 HB02 HB03 HD07 HD18 JA01 KB04 KB06 KB20 MA03 MA08 MA10 MA15 MA26 MA36 MB10 MB15 MC28 5C062 AA02 AA05 AB02 AB08 AB17 AB22 AB23 AB30 AB42 AC59 AF10 AF15 BA04

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A recording paper storage means capable of mounting or storing recording papers of various sizes, a storage means for storing the size of recording paper mounted or stored in the recording paper storage means, and recording data on the recording paper. Recording means, and recording the data on the recording paper accommodated in the recording paper accommodation means by the recording means, then determining the original size of the data based on the size of the data, and sending the original size to the recording paper accommodation means. An image processing apparatus comprising: a control unit configured to store in the storage unit the size of the placed or accommodated recording paper. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control means records the data on the recording paper accommodated in the recording paper accommodation means by the recording means, and then has the recording paper in the recording paper accommodation means. Is an image processing apparatus that determines a document size of data based on the size of the data, and stores the size of the document in the storage unit as the size of the recording paper placed or stored in the recording paper storage unit. 3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a detecting unit for detecting a length of the recording paper, wherein the control unit controls the length of the recording paper detected by the detecting unit and the data. An image processing apparatus that determines whether or not the operation of the recording unit has been normally completed based on whether or not the length of the document size based on the size of the document matches.