JP2002354176A - Image copying device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image copying device which reduces the time from a copy start instruction until the start of an image forming operation and in which copy conditions can be changed even after reading the original. SOLUTION: The image copying device is provided with a control means 12 that detects the closing/opening state of a pressing plate 2 that presses an original placed on an original platen 1 to place the original closely onto the original platen 1 and further detects whether the original is placed on the original platen and starts image reading according to a read condition preset in advance under the condition that the closing state of the pressing plate section 2 and the placement of original on the platen are detected, and reads image data formed in advance form a memory when a copy start is given to an input section to form an image.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image copying apparatus for generating a copy image based on a document placed on a document table.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is an image copying apparatus that reads a document placed on a document table and generates a copy image. This apparatus mounts a document to be copied on a copying table, closes a pressure plate portion on which the copying table is mounted, sets copy sizes such as enlargement and reduction, and desired copy conditions such as image density, and a start button. To start reading image data, temporarily store the image data in a memory, and read the image data from the memory to generate a copy image.

As described above, the start of processing is triggered by depressing the start button. In particular, a detection unit for detecting the open / closed state of the pressure plate unit is provided, and a document to be copied is placed on a copy table. There is also an image copying apparatus in which copying is automatically started by closing a pressure plate portion in a state where the pressing member is closed. Further, there is a color-compatible image copying apparatus of this type. This color-compatible apparatus performs a special pre-scan operation, that is, when the start button is pressed, first scans the original document in advance to determine whether the original image is a color image or a monochrome image, and then scans the image data. Has started reading books.

As a prior example of such an image copying apparatus,
JP-A-2000-115428, JP-A-2000-2
JP-A-32589 and JP-A-5-63904. When an image forming apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-115428 has two copy jobs for which image formation processing is to be continuously performed, the image forming apparatus performs image formation after finishing the original image reading processing of the two copy jobs. In order to eliminate the inconvenience caused by the user's hand giving the instruction to start the process, after reading and storing the original image of the first copy job, forming the image of the first copy job When the process is being performed, the original image reading and storing process of the second copy job can be accepted, and after the image forming process of the first copy job is completed, the second copy job The gist is to automatically start the image forming process.

The image reading apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-232589 is designed to eliminate the time-consuming trouble caused by the pre-scan operation of a color-compatible image reading apparatus. Unit and a control unit, the input image data is stored in the image storage unit, and after the conversion characteristic is set, the input image data is read out from the image storage unit, and the output image is expressed in the second color space. There has been proposed one configured to convert the data into data and eliminating the prescan operation.

The invention disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-63904 discloses an operability of an image copying apparatus that automatically starts copying based on the open / closed state of the above-mentioned pressure plate portion (referred to as a pressure plate in the specification). The applicant of the present invention has proposed a method for improving the image quality and preventing a miscopy when n times. In other words, an automatic magnification mode is provided which is determined according to a document size when an image processing magnification such as an image reading magnification or a copy magnification is detected and a selected output size such as a read image size or a copy paper size, When the mode is on, it accepts the specification of the automatic start mode, in which the operation automatically starts each time the pressure plate is opened and closed, but when the mode is off, it does not accept the specification of the automatic start mode. . Even if the operator sets a document and closes the pressure plate without operating the operation board, the automatic start mode does not work (when the mode is off), or the automatic magnification mode or the automatic output mode Since a copy is created under appropriate conditions depending on the size mode (when the mode is on), no mistake copy occurs in any case.

As described above, JP-A-2000-115428, JP-A-2000-223589, and JP-A-5-6-6
The apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 3904 and the like seems to be effective in overcoming the respective technical problems, but what can be said in common with these conventional apparatuses is that the processing is started by a start button. Alternatively, the process is started when the pressure plate is closed, and once the process is started, the process is automatically performed until the end of the generation of the copy image.

[0008]

By the way, these image copying apparatuses are used once in a company, a school, a convenience store, or the like, although the modes are various. At this time, without pressing down the start button (forgetting), leaving the original on the platen and completing other tasks, the moment the start button is pressed down, or the moment the pressure plate is closed ( When the means for starting the process is triggered by the opening / closing state of the pressure plate), the user notices a mistake in the setting of the copy condition, for example, if the user intends to make a reduced copy, or intends to make a black-and-white copy, At the very beginning, noticing a setting mistake is something everyone has at least experienced.

In the former case, when the user returns after completing other tasks, the start button is pressed again because the intention of pressing the start button was not depressed. Therefore, naturally, the processing starts from reading the image data, and the time required to obtain a copy is governed by the processing capacity of the apparatus. Further, even if the user notices a setting error at the moment when the start button is pressed down or at the moment when the pressure plate is closed, the apparatus performs the processing step lightly, and as a result, gets a miscopy.

JP-A-2000-115428, JP-A-2000-232589, JP-A-5-63904
In the device disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. H10-103, as described above, it is configured to start the process triggered by the start button, or to start the process triggered by the closed state of the pressure plate, and once the process is started. Since the configuration is such that the copying image is automatically generated until the end, a problem such as this cannot be solved, and those directly focusing on this problem are known to the present inventors. Not in range. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an image copying apparatus capable of shortening the time from a copy start instruction to starting an image forming operation and changing copy conditions even after a document is read.

[0011]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, image data generated by reading a document placed on a platen is recorded in a memory, and the image data is recorded in the memory. In an image copying apparatus for generating a copy image based on the received image data, an open / close state of an openable and closable pressure plate unit for pressing a document placed on the platen and bringing the document into close contact with the platen, and the document is Detecting means for detecting whether the document is placed on the table, and reading conditions set in advance on condition that the detecting means detects that the pressure plate portion is closed and a document is placed. Control means for starting the image reading in advance, and an input unit for inputting a copy start instruction are provided, and when the copy start is input to the input unit, the image data which has been started in advance is read from the memory to form an image. You In an image copying apparatus comprising: an image forming means.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the image data which has been read by starting the preceding operation before the input of the copying start can be invalidated as required. Image copying apparatus.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the image copying apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein an image can be re-read under different reading conditions before the input of the copy start.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the third aspect, when the new reading condition is set, the image reading is started in advance based on the new reading condition before the copy start instruction is input. The image copying apparatus is characterized in that:

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to fourth aspects, there is provided an automatic reading start mode designating means for designating the setting / cancellation of the automatic reading start mode. An image copying apparatus is characterized in that a document image reading process is automatically started only when a to-mode setting is designated.

[0016]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG.
An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail. The image copying apparatus exemplified in this embodiment is suitable for copying a desired copy such as a manuscript. As shown in FIG. 1, the image copying apparatus according to the present embodiment includes a platen 1, a pressure plate 2,
Document illumination lamp unit 3, mirror unit 4, zoom lens unit 5, photoreceptor unit 6, cassette unit 7, paper feed roller unit 8, open / close sensor 9, document sensor 10, input unit 1
1 and a control unit 12. The opening / closing sensor 9 and the document sensor 10 constitute a detecting unit.

The document table 1 is made of a transparent glass plate on which a document W is placed, and is attached to the top of the frame of the main body of the image copying apparatus. The pressure plate 2 is supported by the main body frame so as to be openable and closable so as to cover the document table 1, and presses the document W placed on the document table 1 so as to be brought into close contact therewith. The document illumination lamp unit 3 is configured to be movable in the sub-scanning direction by driving a motor unit (not shown), and moves while irradiating the document W placed on the document table 1 with light. Has become.

The mirror section 4 is composed of mirror groups 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, and 46 for receiving the reflected light of the light illuminated by the original illumination lamp section 3 toward the original document W. Accordingly, the mirrors 41, 42, and 43 are configured to be movable in the sub-scanning direction, and are disposed so as to guide the reflected light to an image sensor (not shown) that performs photoelectric conversion and generates image data.

The zoom lens unit 5 is provided in the middle of the light path of the mirror unit 4 and is mechanically connected by an electric motor so as to adjust the magnification, and adjusts the copy magnification in the main scanning direction. The photoreceptor unit 6 selectively irradiates a laser beam on the photoreceptor formed to be conductive by light irradiation based on image data, and places toner on the corresponding portion by electrostatic attraction to print the image in a negative / positive manner. Invert, and then
It is configured to transfer and fix onto copy paper transported by a paper feed roller unit 8 described later. The cassette section 7 is a tray for storing copy paper, and is detachably attached to the main body frame.

The paper feed roller unit 8 is configured to transfer the copy sheets stored in the cassette unit 8 to the photoconductor unit 7 one by one. The open / close sensor 9 is a contact type switch, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and closes the pressure plate 2 near the opening / closing center of the pressure plate 2 of the main body frame to which the document table 1 is attached. In this case, a signal that is turned ON at the time is output, and is connected to a control unit 12 described later.

The document sensor 10 is a group of photoelectric sensors for detecting whether the document W is placed on the document table 1 and the size of the document, and as shown in FIGS. LED toward document W placed on
10a to emit light, and reflect the reflected light to the phototransistor 1
0b is detected so that the presence / absence of the document W and the size of the document W can be simultaneously detected, and is connected to a control unit 12 described later.

As shown in FIG. 2, the input unit 11 includes a start button 11a, a clear stop button 11b, a ten-key button 11c for receiving numerical values such as the number of copies and a copy magnification, an automatic reading mode / normal mode, and a character mode. / Reading conditions such as photo mode and magnification mode,
A selection button 11d for selectively inputting copy conditions such as a paper size and a color density; and a liquid crystal panel 11 on which various information is displayed.
e, and is connected to the control unit 12 described later. The control unit 12 is a microcomputer that includes a memory that records image data output from the image sensor and controls the entire apparatus according to a predetermined program.

Next, the operation of the image copying apparatus according to the present embodiment configured as described above will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The present invention is achieved when the control unit 12 operates according to the following procedure according to a control program recorded in a recording unit (not shown) in advance.

(Step 1) First, the control unit 12
It is determined whether a signal from the open / close sensor 9 that can recognize that the pressure plate portion 2 is closed is output. If no signal has been output (step 1: No), the process waits until the output of the signal can be recognized. When the signal is being output (step 1: Yes), the process proceeds to step 2. (Step 2) It is determined whether at least one signal from the document sensor 10 that can determine whether the document W is placed on the document table 1 is output. That is, when the document W is not placed on the document table 1, no signal is output (Step 2: No), and the process returns to Step 1 and waits. If at least one signal is output from the document sensor 10, that is, if the document W is placed on the document table 1 (Step 2: Yes), the process proceeds to the next Step 3. At this time, the size of the document placed at the same time can be determined by the combination of the output signals of the sensor group.

(Step 3) It is determined whether or not the setting previously input by the input unit 11 is in the automatic reading mode. If the automatic reading mode is not set (step 3: No), that is, the start button 11a
Is pressed, the image is read, and in the case of the normal mode in which a copy image is formed, the process jumps to step 7, and thereafter, the process is completed through the same steps as in the automatic reading mode. When the automatic reading mode is set (Step 3: Yes), the process proceeds to Step 4. (Step 4) The original illumination lamp unit 3, the mirror unit 4, and the zoom lens unit 5 operate to start reading the original W placed on the original table 1 without waiting for the start button 11a to be pressed down. I do. Image data photoelectrically converted by the image sensor is gradually stored in a memory provided in the control unit 12.

(Step 5) At the same time as the reading of the document W is started, the acceptance of the change of the reading condition is started. The reading condition is changed by depressing the clear stop button 11b of the input unit 11, and when the clear stop button 11b is depressed (Step 5: Yes), the data is stored in the memory until then. The image data is released to invalidate the read image (step 51), and the original illumination lamp unit 3, mirror unit 4, and zoom lens unit 5 return to the initial positions. Then, desired reading conditions are input from the input unit 11. When the reading conditions are not changed (Step 5: No),
Proceed to step 6.

(Step 6) ... In this step 6 as well, it is determined whether or not the start button 11a has been depressed simultaneously with the start of reading of the document W, and the process waits together with step 5 until the start button 11a is depressed (step 6: No). When the start button 11a is depressed, the process proceeds to step 7. (Step 7) ... It is determined whether the image data is valid. That is, when the image data is stored in or stored in the memory provided in the control unit 12, the process proceeds to step S8. On the other hand, if the automatic reading mode determined in step 3 is not set,
If the read image is invalidated in step 1, the process proceeds to step 9 because no image data is stored in the memory.

(Step 8) When the reading of the document W is completed, an image forming operation is performed using the image data stored in the memory. That is, the photosensitive member is selectively irradiated with laser light based on the image data to form an electrostatic latent image. Then, the toner is placed on the portion by the electrostatic attraction action, transferred and fixed to the copy paper transported by the paper feed roller unit 8, and the copied copy paper is discharged to the discharge unit, thereby completing the process. (Step 9) If the image data is invalid in step 7, the original illumination lamp unit 3 and the mirror unit 4, which are normal copying operations triggered by the depression of the start button 11a in step 6, The zoom lens unit 5 operates to read the document W placed on the document table 1. When the reading is completed, the image forming operation described in step 8 is performed, and the process ends.

The image copying apparatus according to the present embodiment determines whether the reading condition has been changed in step 5 or not.
When the reading conditions are changed, the image data read so far is invalidated, and thereafter the operation is performed so as to be in the normal mode. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The time is counted for each key input, and when a predetermined time has elapsed after the key input, the mode is determined to be determined, and the reading operation is automatically started (illustrated by a broken line in the figure).
You may let it.

[0030]

As described above, the present invention has the following advantageous effects. According to the first aspect, the document is read in advance before the copy start instruction is issued,
It is possible to shorten the time until the image forming operation is started as compared with the case where the document reading is started and the image formation is performed after the normal copy start instruction is issued. Therefore, for example, without placing the original on the platen and pressing down the start button (forgetting) without leaving (or forgetting) the original placed on the platen, you can do other tasks. According to the present invention, the reading process is performed in advance, regardless of whether the start button is depressed or not, compared to the actual time required to press the start button again to obtain a copy because it was not pressed. In addition, the time required to obtain a copy can be shortened, and convenience can be improved.

According to the second aspect, when it is necessary to read an image under a condition different from that of a previously read image,
By invalidating the image read in advance, issuing a normal copy start instruction, starting reading the original, and switching to perform image formation, the user can set the image according to the setting without performing any special operation. You can read it.

According to the third and fourth aspects, when it is necessary to read an image under a condition different from that of a previously read image, the document is read again when the condition is determined, so that a different reading condition is set. However, since the original is read before receiving the copy start instruction,
The time until the start of the image forming operation can be reduced.
In addition, if a setting error is noticed immediately after the original is set and the preceding reading is started, the original reading conditions can be set again, so that erroneous printing can be reduced.

According to the fifth aspect, the automatic reading start mode setting / cancellation is provided for the user who does not want to perform the reading operation each time a document is set or the reading conditions are changed. Can be set arbitrarily to improve convenience.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an outline of an image copying apparatus according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a document table with a pressure plate portion opened.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating an arrangement relationship between an open / close sensor and a document sensor;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the document table showing an arrangement position of a document sensor.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure executed by a control unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 platen 2 pressure plate 9 open / close sensor 10 document sensor 11 input unit 11 a start button 11 b clear stop button 12 control unit

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) G03G 21/14 H04N 1/21 H04N 1/21 G03G 21/00 372 F term (Reference) 2H027 DA24 DA25 DB03 DE07 ED05 ED12 EE08 EE10 EF12 EH06 EH08 FA22 FA25 FA30 FA37 FB06 FB07 FC02 FD08 2H076 AA58 BA07 BA08 BA59 BA84 BA87 BB02 2H108 AA01 FA05 FA17 FA21 5C062 AA05 AB20 AB42 AC04 AC23 AC65 AD02 BA04 5C07A A

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An image copying apparatus for reading an original placed on a platen, recording image data generated in a memory, and generating a copy image based on the image data recorded in the memory. Detecting means for detecting the open / close state of an openable and closable pressure plate unit for pressing a document placed on a platen and bringing the document into close contact with the platen, and detecting whether the document is placed on the platen; Control means for starting image reading ahead based on a preset reading condition on condition that the detecting means detects that the document is placed in a closed state and a document is placed, and a copy start instruction is input An image forming apparatus, comprising: an input unit; and image forming means for reading out image data that has been started earlier from the memory when the start of copying is input to the input unit to form an image. 2. The image copying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image data read and started before the input of the copying start can be invalidated as required. 3. The image copying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an image can be re-read under different new reading conditions before inputting the start of copying. 4. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the new reading condition is set, the image reading is started in advance based on the new reading condition before the copy start instruction is input. The image copying apparatus according to claim 3. 5. An automatic reading start mode designating means for designating setting / cancellation of an automatic reading start mode, wherein an automatic reading start mode is automatically set only when the automatic reading start mode setting is designated. The image copying apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a document image reading process is started.