JP2003008824A - Imaging device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce waste of copying materials, resulting from mismounting of an original and unspecified-shape originals. SOLUTION: An image read image pickup element (CCD) is used to detect the horizontal-scanning-directional width of a detecting means for originals and according to horizontal-scanning-directional width detection information and vertical-scanning-directional length detection information, the mounting state of an original on an original platen is decided to issue a warning display, if unspecified-shape original size is decided, unspecified-shape original control is carried out.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having a document size detection sensor for determining that a document placed on a document table is not placed normally.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional technique will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 8A is a schematic diagram of a document size detecting sensor, and FIG. 8B is a diagram showing the positional relationship between the document size detecting sensor and the document placement.

In order to detect the size of the original placed on the original table, as shown in FIG. 8A, a plurality of main scanning width detections (vertical) and sub-scanning length detection (horizontal) are detected. A photo sensor including a light emitting element and a light receiving element is provided, and the vertical and horizontal combinational logic (look-up table) is stored in the CPU, and the document size detected by the photo sensor and the look-up table are collated to determine the document size. At the same time, an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer configured to select a transfer material suitable for the original size from a plurality of cassettes to make a copy based on the determination is well known.

In the above-described image forming apparatus, for example, in FIG. 8B, when the width information in the main scanning direction is less than the minimum size, such as documents A and B, all the sensors for detecting the document size are in the OFF state. When (the original is a strip-shaped long and narrow irregular size or a business card size smaller than the minimum size, it may not be detected by the photo sensor arrangement), the minimum size is set as the standard size of the original. It was detected, and an image was formed on the transfer material of the minimum size.

If the width information in the main scanning direction for the document size detection is zero, that is, if it is detected that the document is not placed on the platen like the document C, the standard size of the document is determined. It was detected as the smallest size among the set sizes, and an image was formed on the smallest size transfer material.

In the above example, the document placing system centering on the document table was described, but the same is true for the document placing system based on one side of the document table.

As described above, the copy size becomes unsuitable depending on the placement state of the document on the document table and the document size, and thus wasteful consumption of copy material cannot be prevented.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to reduce wasteful copy consumption due to document placement failure and for a document of a minimum document size or smaller. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that can more easily reduce wasteful consumption of copy materials by automatically and automatically processing irregular-sized originals.

[0010]

The objects of the present invention can be achieved by the following constitutions.

(1) Detecting means for detecting the width in the main scanning direction of a document placed on the document table, detecting means for detecting the longitudinal length in the sub-scanning direction, and document size determination for determining the size of the document by the both detecting means. An image forming apparatus having a transfer material size determining means for determining a transfer material size based on the document size detection information obtained by the document size determining means, the main scanning direction width detecting means and the sub-scanning direction longitudinal detecting means detecting Based on the information, the placement state of the original on the original table is determined, and when the original is not placed at the normal position,
An image forming apparatus characterized by displaying a warning display (first invention). (2) Detecting means for detecting the width in the main scanning direction of the original placed on the original table, detecting means for detecting the longitudinal length in the sub-scanning direction, original size determining means for determining the size of the original by the both detecting means, In the image forming apparatus having the transfer material size determining means for determining the transfer material size based on the document size detecting information obtained by the document size determining means, the detection information of the main scanning direction width detecting means and the sub-scanning direction longitudinal detecting means is used. On the basis of the above, the image forming apparatus (second invention) is characterized in that when the document size is determined to be an irregular document size, irregular document control is performed.

[0012]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An example of an embodiment according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of an image forming apparatus (hereinafter referred to as a copying machine). The copying machine according to the present embodiment is provided with an automatic document feeder 1 on the upper part of the copying machine main body, and an image reading section 2, an image forming section 3, a paper feeding section 5 and a transfer material storage section 7 in the main body of the copying machine. Have

The automatic document feeder 1 is a device which feeds out the originals one by one, conveys them to an image reading position, and discharges the originals after the image reading to a predetermined place.

In the image reading section 2, when the document D is placed on the platen glass 27 on the document table and the image information is read, the read image is a movable exposure lamp 231 and a first mirror 232. It is reflected by a first mirror unit having a mirror and a second mirror unit having mirrors 241 and 242, and similarly forms an image on a linear image sensor (hereinafter referred to as CCD) 26 via an imaging lens 25.

A document size detection sensor (hereinafter also referred to as a detection sensor) serving as a document size detection means described later.
Are arranged in the image reading unit 2.

The image information of the document D read by the image reading unit 2 is subjected to image processing by an image processing unit, which will be described later, converted into signal data as image data, and temporarily stored in the memory.

When the image formation is started, the image forming section 3 which is an image forming means starts to operate, and the image data is called from the memory and input to the image writing section 33.

Next, a laser beam projected from a laser light emitter (not shown) according to the image data is rotated in advance by a polygon mirror (no reference numeral), so that the charger 32 is charged in advance.
The main scanning exposure in the axial direction of the photoconductor drum 31 and the sub-scanning exposure by the rotation of the photoconductor drum 31 are performed on the photoconductor drum 31 to which the potential is applied by An electrostatic latent image of the original image is formed on the photosensitive layer of.

The electrostatic latent image is reversely developed by the developing device 34 to form a toner image, and in parallel with this, a manual sheet feeding section 19 as a transfer material sheet feeding means or a sheet feeding cassette for storing the transfer material is formed. Any of the sheet feeding units 51A, 51B, and 51C included therein is operated to carry out the transfer material, and the transfer rollers 55 and 5 are provided.
6 and the timing roller 39. Further, the transfer material is superposed on the photosensitive drum 31 in synchronization with the toner image on the photosensitive drum 31, and is fed in accordance with the linear velocity.

The toner image on the photosensitive drum 31 is transferred onto the surface of the transfer material by the transfer device 35 to which a voltage of opposite polarity is applied. The transfer material on which the toner image has been transferred is neutralized by the static eliminator 36, separated from the photosensitive drum 31, transported to the fixing device 38 via the transport belt 61, and heated by pressure bonding of the heat roller pair 62. After the toner is welded to the transfer material, it is discharged onto the tray 64.

On the other hand, the photosensitive drum 31 from which the transfer material is separated
After removing the residual potential, the cleaning device 37 removes and cleans the residual toner, and the process proceeds to the next image forming process.

In the present embodiment, the image reading section 2 and the image forming section 3 are integrated image forming apparatuses, but the image reading section and the image forming section may be separate image forming apparatuses. Good.

FIG. 2 is a view showing the position of the document detecting sensor on the document table and the document attachment reference on the platen glass.

FIG. 3 is a view showing a state in which a document is normally placed on the platen glass. The platen glass 27
The document size information of the document D placed on the document is the longitudinal size detection sensors T1, T2 in the sub-scanning direction of the standard size document shown in FIG.
Document size detection including T3 (three units are described in this embodiment, but it may be increased or decreased depending on the type of a standard size document) and a linear CCD 26 (see FIG. 1) as a sensor for detecting the width of the document in the main scanning direction. Detected by means.

Longitudinal detection sensors T1 and T for the original in the sub-scanning direction
Reference numerals T3 and T3 are optical sensors each including a light emitting element and a light receiving element provided below the platen glass 27, and detect the edge of the document D placed on the platen glass 27 with the platen opened. It is a thing.

Sub-scanning direction longitudinal detection sensors T1, T2, T
3 and the document size information from the CCD 26 as the main scanning direction width detection sensor, the document size is determined.

The document size information is a CP as a control means.
It is input to U and collated with a look-up table (LUT) that determines the reading size of the original in the CPU,
AB series (A3, A4, A4R, B4, B5, B5R
Etc.) and inch size series (8.5 × 11, 8.5 × 11
R, 8.5 × 14, 11 × 17, etc.) is determined.

CCD 2 as a width detection sensor in the main scanning direction
The exposure lamp 231 functioning as a light-emitting unit for 6 is in a standby state at a position M = about 30 mm closer to the document mounting side than the document attachment reference.

The above-mentioned numerical value of M = about 30 mm is the time required for the CCD 26 to detect and judge the document placing state and the document size while the exposure lamp 231 returns from the standby position to the document abutting reference. It is set for.

Platen cover (in the case of the present embodiment,
(Built into the automatic document feeder 1) is opened,
When an open / close detection sensor (not shown) detects from closed to open, the control unit calls the original size detection program from the ROM to enter the original size detection mode, and the exposure lamp 231 moves within a predetermined original image area. A check is made as to whether or not there is a certain waiting state.

Next, at the time when the open / close detection sensor detects from open to closed, size detection is performed at a fixed position on the platen glass 27 (position with the upper left corner shown in FIG. 3 as the reference for the document abutting). A document D to be printed is placed.

When the open / close detection sensor detects from open to closed, the exposure lamp 231 is turned on and the exposure lamp 2 is turned on.
A predetermined pulse movement command is given to a drive motor (not shown) for a predetermined time (T) in order to move 31 from the standby position M shown in FIG. 2 to the document abutting reference position which is the image reading start position. , Is output.

The predetermined time (T) is set to be shorter than the closing time from when the open / close detection sensor detects the opening to closing until the platen cover reaches an angle of about 10 ° to 20 °.

Since the surface of the platen cover which is in contact with the platen glass 27 is white, it is difficult to distinguish between the background color of the original and the color of the platen cover when trying to automatically detect the size of the original.

For this purpose, in order to automatically detect the size of the original, it is necessary that the platen cover be in an open state. Generally, the CCD 26 or the original length detection sensor has a platen cover of 10 ° to 20 °. If it is opened more than a certain degree, it becomes possible to identify.

The time t during the movement of the exposure lamp 231.
While (t <T), the width of the document in the main scanning direction is read by the CCD 26 and the sub-scanning direction longitudinal detection sensors T1, T2,
The length of the document in the sub-scanning direction is read at T3.

The movement amount of the exposure lamp 231 during the time t is set within about 30 mm.

In the document size detection mode, the CCD
The output from 26 does not detect the document width intermittently corresponding to the standard size by comparing it with a threshold value set in advance in the image reading unit 2, but can continuously detect the document width itself. A document width determination command is output to the copy section to determine the document width.

Conventionally, the document width could be detected only by a limited size width by an individual sensor corresponding to the standard size.

However, if the system using the CCD is used to confirm the original placement position according to the present invention, the original size width other than the standard size can be arbitrarily detected.

At the same time, the sub-scanning direction longitudinal detection sensor T1,
By T2 and T3, it becomes possible to detect the fixed size original in the length direction.

The standard size of the document D is determined by the above-described judgment logics of the document width direction detection and the document length direction detection.

When the standard size of the original document D is determined and a predetermined time (T) elapses, the exposure lamp 231 reaches the original document abutting reference position.

In the present invention, the exposure lamp 231 is used to supply power to the sub-scanning direction longitudinal detection sensors T1, T2, T3.
It is performed while issuing a lighting command to.

That is, the sub-scanning direction longitudinal detection sensors T1, T
2 and T3 detect the length of the document D while the exposure lamp 231 is lit by reading the document width by the CCD 26.

Alternatively, while the open / close detection sensor outputs an open signal, the sub-scanning direction longitudinal detection sensors T1, T2, T
In step 3, the length detection in the length direction is continuously performed, and the document length detected immediately before the time when the open / close detection sensor switches from open to closed is set as the detection length.

The reading of the document width by the CCD 26 is performed by a document width determination command to the image reading unit 2 to determine the document width, and the sub-scanning direction longitudinal detection sensor T1,
In addition to detecting the length of the document D by T2 and T3, the control unit determines the document size.

In the present invention, both standard and irregular document sizes can be detected as the document size.

Next, a method of judging the placement state of the document D placed on the platen glass 27 of the present invention will be described.

As can be seen from FIG. 2, a document abutting reference is provided on the upper left end, and an exposure lamp 231 for illuminating the document of the image reading means (in the standby state, M = about 30 mm from the document abutting reference on the document mounting side). It is in the position where you entered.)
Is used as the width detection sensor in the main scanning direction, and the length detection sensors T1, T2 in the sub-scanning direction corresponding to the detection of the fixed size original document.
A plurality of T3s are arranged on the lower surface side of the document table.

The sub-scanning direction longitudinal detection sensors T1, T
Reference numerals 2 and T3 are composed of a reflection type sensor having a light emitting element and a light receiving element, and are arranged at positions that do not hinder the movement operation of the exposure optical system as the image reading means.

In FIG. 3, the document D is placed on the platen glass 27 in a normal state with the upper left end abutting against it.

The width of the document D in the main scanning direction is illuminated by the exposure lamp 231 for illuminating the document of the image reading means, detected by the CCD 26 of the image reading section, and output as image width data.

On the other hand, the length in the sub-scanning direction is, as described above, the lengthwise detection sensors T1, T2, T3 in the sub-scanning direction corresponding to the detection of the fixed-size original document arranged on the lower surface side of the original table.
Is detected by and output as image length data.

The size of the fixed-size original is selected from the image width data of the width in the main scanning direction and the image length data of the length in the sub-scanning direction.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a first example of the document placement failure on the platen glass, in which the detection information of the width in the main scanning direction is zero,
That is, the left end of the document D is located outside the exposure lamp 231 which is also the main scanning direction width detection sensor of the platen glass 27, and the sub scanning direction longitudinal detection sensors T1, T2,
It shows a state where all T3 are not detected, that is, the length of the document D is out of the detection positions of all the longitudinal sensors T1, T2, and T3 in the sub-scanning direction.

When the original is placed as described above,
By displaying a warning display indicating that the document D is not placed at a normal position and a warning display indicating that the document D is not placed on the display unit of the copying machine, it is possible to prevent an error of the operator of the copying machine. be able to.

In the conventional document size detection method, only the predetermined size can be determined by the grouping by the matrix-like lookup table table, and the document placement state (deviation from the document table abutting reference or document Was not possible)

On the other hand, in the size detecting method according to the present invention, since the width and the length of the original can be detected separately, it is possible to determine the placement state of the original described above.

Therefore, in the present invention, it is possible to display the placement state of the original document and to display a warning.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a second example of the document placement failure on the platen glass, in which the detection information of the width in the main scanning direction is zero,
That is, the left end of the document D is located outside the exposure lamp 231 of the platen glass 27 main scanning direction width detection sensor, and the sub-scanning direction longitudinal detection sensors T1, T2, T3.
It indicates that even one of the items is being detected.

When the original is placed as described above,
A warning display indicating that the document D is not placed at a normal position is displayed to call the operator's attention, and useless copying can be prevented in advance.

In such a case, it cannot be determined that the original has a standard size, but since the length direction detection information of the original is input, it can be regarded as an irregular size original and processed.

Here, the irregular original control means that when the irregular size is determined, the entire reading area is scanned and the size of the transfer material is selected by collating with the corresponding area and automatically copied. This is a control in which the so-called irregular size processing mode, in which the operation is performed, is automatically set to the irregular size processing mode by presetting in the copying machine.

Alternatively, a method of notifying the operator that the placed original is an irregular original and allowing the operator to perform a normal copy operation, specifically, the irregular original is displayed on the display panel There is also a method of displaying a message, and after confirming it by an operator, selecting a transfer material or the like so that a normal copy operation can be performed.

FIG. 6 shows another example of document placement failure. The main scanning direction width detection information is less than the minimum document size width W, that is, the exposure lamp 231 of the main scanning direction width detection sensor.
3 shows the case where the document D is placed in a state where the document detection width L is shorter than the minimum document width W of the document D (W> L).

When the original is placed as described above,
A warning display indicating that the document D is not placed at a normal position is displayed to call the operator's attention, and useless copying can be prevented in advance.

Further, in such a case, since the detection width L of the original in the width in the main scanning direction is shorter than the minimum original width W, it can be regarded as an irregular original size and processed.

In this case, if it is determined that the size of the original is irregular size according to the original size information from the original size detecting means, the irregular original processing mode is set in advance in the copying machine to automatically cause the irregular size. The mode is switched to the standard size processing mode, and the irregular size document control is performed.

FIG. 7 shows a flow chart relating to detection control of a document placed on the platen glass.

CCD 2 as a sensor for detecting the width in the main scanning direction
6 (see FIG. 1) and the sub-scanning direction longitudinal detection sensors T1, T
2, T3 (see FIG. 2) detects the size of the document D placed on the platen glass 27 (S11).

It is determined whether the width detection in the main scanning direction is zero (S
12) If YES (that is, the document D is not detected), it is determined whether all the sub-scanning direction longitudinal detection sensors are OFF (that is, the document D is not detected) (S13).
If YES, it is determined that there is no document D on the platen glass (S15), and the copier gives a warning display of process 2.

All sub-scanning direction longitudinal detection sensors are OFF
If not (NO), it is determined that the document D on the platen glass is not properly placed (S16), and the copier issues a warning display, which is Process 1.

It is determined whether the width detection in the main scanning direction is zero (S
12) If NO, it is determined whether the width detection L in the main scanning direction is smaller than the minimum size width W (S14), and YE
If S (L <W), the original D on the platen glass is judged to be an irregular original size (S17).

If it is determined that the original size is irregular,
The irregular document control which is the process 3 is executed in the irregular document processing mode described above.

It is judged whether or not the width detection in the main scanning direction is smaller than the minimum size width (S14). If NO (L> W), it is judged that the size of the fixed original is detected (detection of the conventional size) (S18). The standard document size processing is executed.

With the above flow, it is possible to easily determine the state of placement of the original on the original table and the fixed / non-fixed size of the original, and it is possible to reduce wasteful consumption of copy material.

[0079]

The image reading image pickup device (C) provided in the image reading portion serves as means for detecting the width of the document in the main scanning direction.
By using the CD, it is possible to accurately detect the placed state of the document and the document width size, and it is possible to reduce wasteful use of copy material due to incorrect placement of the document or irregular-shaped document.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a document detection sensor arrangement position on a document table and a document abutting reference on a platen glass.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a state in which a document is normally placed on a platen glass.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a first example of document placement failure on a platen glass.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a second example of a document placement failure on the platen glass.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a third example of document placement failure on the platen glass.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart regarding detection control of a document placed on a platen glass.

FIG. 8A is a schematic diagram of a document size detection sensor,
FIG. 6B is a diagram showing the positional relationship between the placement of the document size detection sensor and placement of the document.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Automatic document feeder 2 Image reading section 26 CCD 27 Platen glass 231 exposure lamp 3 Image forming section 5 paper feeder 7 Transfer material storage T1 to T3 Sub-scanning direction longitudinal detection sensor

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) G06T 1/00 430 G06T 1/00 430C 5C072 H04N 1/04 106 H04N 1/04 106A F term (reference) 2H012 CB21 CB22 2H027 DB03 DB06 DB09 DB10 DE02 DE07 DE10 EC02 EC06 EC07 EC10 EC18 EC20 ED04 ED17 EE01 EE07 EF06 FA04 FA05 FA35 FB07 FB14 GA30 GA54 GB04 ZA07 2H108 AA01 JA06 CA02 DC02 CB17 A02 BA02 CB11 BC02 CB11 BC02 CB11 BC02 CB02 CB02 BC02 CB02 CB02 BC02 AF10 5C072 AA01 BA20 LA03 RA02 RA04 XA01

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A detection unit for detecting a width of a document placed on a platen in a main scanning direction, a detection unit for detecting a length in a sub-scanning direction, and a document size determination unit for determining a size of a document by the both detection units. In the image forming apparatus having the transfer material size determining means for determining the transfer material size based on the document size detecting information obtained by the document size determining means, the detection information of the main scanning direction width detecting means and the sub-scanning direction longitudinal detecting means On the basis of the above, the image forming apparatus is characterized in that the state of placement of the original on the original table is judged, and if the original is not placed at a normal position, a warning is displayed. 2. A warning display indicating that the document is not placed in a normal position is displayed when the detection information from the main scanning direction width detection means is zero. The image forming apparatus described. 3. If the detection information from the main scanning direction width detection means is zero and the detection information of all the sensors of the sub scanning direction length detection means is zero, it means that the document is not in a normal position. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the warning display of 1) or a warning display indicating that no document is placed is displayed. 4. The original is not in a normal position when the detection information from the width detection means in the main scanning direction is zero and the detection information from any one of the length detection means in the sub scanning direction is present. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a warning display indicating the effect is displayed. 5. A warning display indicating that the original is not in a normal position is displayed when the detection information from the main scanning direction width detection means is smaller than the minimum size. Image forming device. 6. A detection unit for detecting the width in the main scanning direction of a document placed on the platen, a detection unit for detecting the length in the sub scanning direction, and a document size determination unit for determining the size of the document by both of the detection units. In the image forming apparatus having the transfer material size determining means for determining the transfer material size based on the document size detecting information obtained by the document size determining means, the main scanning direction width detecting means and the sub-scanning direction longitudinal detecting means are detected. An image forming apparatus, characterized in that when an original size is determined to be an irregular original size based on information, irregular original control is performed. 7. When the detection information from the main scanning direction width detecting means is zero and there is the detection information from any of the sensors in the sub scanning direction longitudinal detecting means, the original size is set to the irregular original size. 7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the irregular original control is performed. 8. If the detection information of the main scanning direction width detection means is less than the minimum size, then the original size is determined to be an irregular original size and the irregular original control is performed. The image forming apparatus according to item 6. 9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an image reading image pickup element provided in an image reading unit is used as the main scanning direction width detecting means.