JP2003145878A - Imaging apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize an imaging apparatus having an index function easy to use. SOLUTION: An index forming means is set which can set a size of index images and forms index images correctly to tabs irrespective of the size and positions.

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 such as a copying machine or a printer, and more particularly to an index mode in which an image is formed on a plurality of recording sheets and an index sheet for chaptering is inserted between the image sheets. To an improvement of an image forming apparatus having

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As an applied function of an image forming apparatus, there is an index mode in which an index sheet is inserted between a plurality of image sheets and divided into chapters. In the index mode, as shown in FIG. 1, the index sheet DX is printed by printing the chapter names such as the first chapter and the second chapter on the tab TB of the index sheet recording.
1 and DX2 can be manufactured.

In the following description, as shown in FIG.
The image DXG formed on B is called an index image,
A sheet having the tab TB with the index image DXG is called an index sheet, a sheet from which the index image DXG is read is called an index document, and a sheet on which the tab TB has no index image DXG is called an index recording sheet.

The index image DXG is formed by copying an index document in copying, and is formed by using image data for the index image in printing.

[0005]

However, the conventional index function has the following problems.

The size and position of the tab TB of the index sheet differs depending on how many index sheet sets are to be formed. That is, as shown in FIG. 2A, the size and position of the tab TB are different between the index sheet DXa of five sheets and the set of index sheets DXb of three sheets.

Therefore, it is necessary to change the size and position of the index image according to the size and type of index paper. However, the conventional index function cannot form an appropriate index image corresponding to such various index sheets. For example, when an index image is formed on the index recording paper by copying from the index original, the index original DXR is copied onto the index recording paper DXP when the correspondence between the index original and the index recording paper is correct as shown in FIG. Therefore, the index image D
The index paper DX on which XG is correctly formed is produced, but if it is mistaken, the index image DXG will be missing and will not be formed on the index paper DX. For this reason, conventionally, it is necessary to load each index recording paper DXP in the original feeding section and the recording sheet accommodating section by accurately associating each index recording sheet DXP with one sheet, and this loading is troublesome. It took time. When the index image DXG is formed by printing,
An extremely troublesome setting operation is required, such as changing the position of the index image depending on the number of the index paper in the set.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems in the conventional index function and to provide an image forming apparatus equipped with an easy-to-use index function.

[0009]

The above-mentioned objects of the present invention are achieved by the following inventions.

1. An image forming apparatus comprising: an index setting unit that sets an index size; and an index forming unit that forms an index image of a size corresponding to the setting of the index setting unit on an index recording sheet.

2. 2. The image forming apparatus according to 1, wherein the index setting unit sets at least the index size in a direction orthogonal to a conveyance direction of the index recording paper.

3. 3. The index setting means sets the index size by an operation of designating the size of the index recording paper and the ratio of the index size to the size of the index recording paper. Image forming apparatus.

4. 4. The image forming apparatus according to any one of the items 1 to 3, wherein the index setting unit sets the index size according to an operator's operation.

5. An image reading unit for reading an index document is provided, and the index setting unit sets the index size based on information including image information and scaling information of the index image read by the image reading unit. The image forming apparatus according to any one of 1 to 4.

6. 6. The image forming apparatus described in any one of 1 to 5 above, which has a memory that stores index image data.

7. 1 to 3, characterized in that the index setting means has a size detecting means for detecting the size of the tab of the loaded index recording paper, and the index setting means sets the index size based on a detection signal of the size detecting means. The image forming apparatus according to any one of 6 above.

8. When the index mode is set by the index mode setting unit, the recording paper feeding unit, and the index mode setting unit, and the index recording paper is fed from the recording paper feeding unit to form the index image, the image bearing is carried. An image forming apparatus comprising: an index forming unit that forms a plurality of index images on a body.

9. 8. The index setting means for setting the size of an index image is provided.
The image forming apparatus according to item 1.

10. 10. The image forming apparatus according to 9, wherein the index forming unit changes the number and position of index images formed on the image carrier according to the index size set by the index setting unit.

[0020]

FIG. 4 shows an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, which comprises an image forming apparatus main body A and a post-processing apparatus FS.

The image forming apparatus main body A shown in the figure includes an image reading section 2 having a document feeding section 1, an image forming section 3, a recording sheet feeding section, a conveying section, a fixing device 7, a re-conveying section (automatic two-sided copy conveying). Section ADU) 8 and the like. The image forming unit 3 forms an image by an electrophotographic method, forms a toner image on the photoconductor 3A as an image carrier by charging, exposing and developing, and forms a toner image on the recording paper P by transfer. .

The recording paper feeding unit is composed of a recording paper storage tray and a paper feeding unit for feeding recording paper one by one, and three sets of recording paper feeding units, that is, the recording paper storage tray 4A and a paper feeding unit. A unit 5A, a recording paper storage tray 4B, a paper feed unit 5B, a recording paper storage tray 4C, and a paper feed unit 5C are provided. 5D is a manual paper feed unit. The transport unit has a registration roller 6A, a switching guide member 6B, and a paper discharge roller 6C.

The document d placed on the document table of the document feeding section 1 is conveyed in the direction of the arrow and one side or both sides of the document are read by the optical system of the image reading section 2 and the CCD image sensor 2A is read. Is read. CCD image sensor 2A
The analog signal photoelectrically converted by
After being subjected to A / D conversion, shading correction, image compression processing, etc., it is transmitted to the image forming unit 3.

In the image forming section 3, the photoconductor 3A is exposed to the output light from the semiconductor laser to form a latent image.
In the image forming section 3, processing such as charging, exposure, development, transfer, separation, cleaning and the like are performed.

The recording paper P carrying the image is fixed by the fixing device 7, and is discharged from the paper discharge roller 6C to the post-processing device FS.
Sent to. Alternatively, the single-sided image-processed recording sheet P sent to the re-conveying section 8 by the switching guide member 6B is again image-formed on the back side in the image forming section 3, and then discharged from the discharge roller 6C. The paper S discharged from the paper discharge roller 6C is sent to the post-processing device FS.

In the post-processing apparatus FS, the fixed sheet discharge tray 10, the shift sheet discharge section 11, the intermediate stacker 1 are arranged from the top in the figure.
2, a stapler 13 and an elevating paper ejection tray 14 are provided.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an image data processing system and a control system of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

The image data generated by the image reading section 2 is subjected to image processing such as scaling, gradation processing, filter processing, etc. in the image processing section GS and stored in the image memory MR. The image data read from the image memory MR during image formation is transmitted to the image forming unit 3, and the image forming unit 3
At, it is recorded on recording paper. The recording paper feed section PS is composed of a plurality of recording paper storage trays 4A and paper feed units 5A, recording paper storage trays 4B and paper feed units 5B, recording paper storage trays 4C and paper feed units 5 in FIG.
It is composed of C and a manual sheet feeding section 5D. OD is an operation display unit, and various conditions in the index mode are set as described later. CR is a control unit that controls the whole.

FIG. 6 shows a display screen displayed on the operation display section OD of FIG. 5. By touching the button “index” on the application screen of FIG. 6 (a), the index screen of FIG. 6 (b) is displayed. Switch.

In the index screen of FIG. 6B, the size of index recording paper and the number of tabs can be designated. By specifying the size of the index recording paper and the number of tabs, the size of the image formed on the tab, that is, the size of the index image, that is, the index size is set.

As shown in FIG. 2, the tab length in the direction parallel to the side EJ on which the tab TB is formed and the tab width in the direction orthogonal to the side EJ differ depending on the type of index paper.
Depends on the size of the index paper. Therefore, the index size is set to a value according to the size of the tab on which the index image is formed.

The control unit CR calculates the index size based on the data set from the screen of FIG. 6B, based on the number of tabs, that is, the data indicating the ratio between the size of the index sheet and the size of the tabs, The data of the obtained index size is stored in the image memory MR.

In the copying operation, the operator sets the size of the index recording paper and the number of tabs from the size of the index document, its tabs and the copy magnification, using the screen of FIG. 6B. Settings are size display SH and tab number display TB
The operation is performed by designating H and pressing the OK button OKB1.

When the OK button OKB1 is pressed, the screen is switched to the index page insertion page designation screen shown in FIG. In the screen of Figure 7,
The insert page can be specified from the ten-key TK.
The input page is set by inputting a numerical value from the ten keys TK and pressing the setting button SET. Delete key CA
The number of pages is deleted by inputting it by the operation of B1. By repeating the operation of the ten key TK and the setting button SET, a plurality of insertion page numbers are set and displayed on the insertion page displays SPH1 to SPH15. When all inserted pages have been set, OK button OK
Press B2 to complete the index mode setting operation. In addition, in order to cancel the entire insertion page setting, the cancel button CAB2 is pressed.

Next, the index image forming step will be described. An example of the index image forming process is shown in FIG. A set of three 3-page index originals DXR is loaded in the original feeding section 1 of the image reading section 2, and the index mode is set based on the loaded index originals using the screens of FIGS. By pressing the copy button, the index mode is started, the index document DXR is read, and the index image data is stored in the image memory M.
Stored in R.

In the example of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 4, the recording paper feeding section for storing the index recording paper is specified, and the index recording paper is stored in the recording paper storage tray 4A. The index recording paper is loaded so that the edge on which the tab is formed is the rear end in the transport direction. Therefore, in forming the index image, the index recording paper is conveyed in a direction orthogonal to the edge on which the tab is formed, and the index image is formed on the rear edge of the index recording paper. The operator can arbitrarily set the index recording sheet without specifying the recording sheet feeding unit.

Next, the read original is loaded in the original feeding section 1, the original is read and an image is formed, an image is formed on the recording paper, and an index image is formed on the index paper according to the chapter division. A document in which index sheets are inserted between recording sheets is produced.

The index originals DXR1, DXR2 and DXR3 shown in FIG. 8 having three tabs TB1, TB2 and TB3 are read. Index images of “first chapter”, “second chapter” and “third chapter” are attached to the tabs TB1, TB2 and TB3, respectively.

An index toner image DXT1 is formed on the photoconductor 3A of the image forming section 3 based on the index original DXR1. Index toner image DXT1
As shown in the figure, three tab toner images TBT1 of the "first chapter" are formed. Such image formation is performed by the image processing unit G
By the image processing in S, two index image data are duplicated from one index image data and added to the index image data produced by reading. Similarly, the index toner image D
Three tab toner images TBT2 are formed on the XT2, and three tab toner images TBT3 are formed on the index image DXT3.
Is formed.

The index toner image formed on the photoconductor 3A is transferred to the index recording paper, but only one of the three index toner images is formed on the index recording paper on which one tab TB is formed. Tabs on the index recording sheets DXP1, DXP2, DXP3
Index originals DX are assigned to 1, TB2, and TB3, respectively.
The index images “first chapter”, “second chapter”, and “third chapter” that correctly correspond to R1, DXR2, and DXR3 are formed at correct positions.

As described above, since the number of tab toner images TBT corresponding to the designated number of tabs are formed on the photoconductor 3A, the index original DXR and the index recording paper DX are formed.
Even if there is a shift in the tab position from P, the index image is formed at the correct tab position.

By using the index image forming function described above, for example, the index document formed of the index sheet DXa of FIG. 2, that is, the index document of a set of five sheets having five tabs TB is read, and the index document DXb is read. It is also possible to produce another index recording paper, that is, a set of three index papers having three tabs TB. In this case, the control unit CR and the image processing unit GS perform a scaling process on the image data created by reading the index paper DXa, create index image data of a size and position suitable for the index paper DXb, and generate an image. It is stored in the memory MR.

The case where the index paper is produced by copying from the index original has been described above, but the index paper can be produced by forming an index image by printing.

The step of forming an index image by printing is executed as follows. By setting the index mode using the screens shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 and inputting the characters or numbers to be printed as the index image from the operation display unit OD, the index corresponding to the index paper type and the index paper type specified The size and position data is stored in the image memory MR. The control unit CR responds to the input index image data by
The image processing unit GS creates index image data for image formation under the control of the control unit CR, and the image forming unit 3 records according to the created index image data under the control of the process of determining the size and position. An index image is formed on the index recording paper fed from the paper feeding unit.

Further, a sensor as a size detecting means for detecting the size of the tab of the index recording paper is provided in the recording paper feeding section, and the index image is formed according to the tab size information detected by the sensor. Is also possible. By doing so, the setting relating to the index recording paper using the screen shown in FIG. 6 becomes unnecessary. If such an automatic index size setting function is used, for example, the apparatus automatically sets the correct size and position on the index recording paper of one set of three sheets from the index document of one set of five sheets shown in FIG. It becomes possible to form an image.

In the above-described embodiment, the control unit CR and the image processing unit GS index based on the condition set in the operation display unit OD or the information of the index size detected by the sensor (size detecting means). The image forming conditions are set, and the operation display unit OD, the control unit CR and the image processing unit GS or the operation display unit OD, the control unit CR, the sensor and the image processing unit GS constitute an index setting unit. Further, the image forming unit 3 forms an index image based on the index image data created in the image processing unit GS, and the image processing unit GS, the image memory MR and the image forming unit 3 constitute an index forming unit.

[0047]

According to the first, second, fourth, fifth or sixth aspect of the present invention, since an appropriate index image according to the size and type of the index recording paper is formed on the index recording paper, it has an easy-to-use index function. The image forming apparatus is realized.

According to the invention of claim 3, the size of the index image can be set by an extremely simple operation, and an image forming apparatus having an index function which is easy to use is realized.

According to the invention of claim 7, since the index size is set only by loading the index recording paper, the setting operation in the index mode is unnecessary, and the image forming apparatus having the index function is easier to use. Is realized.

According to the eighth, ninth or tenth aspect of the invention, the correct size is obtained regardless of the kind of the index recording paper,
Since the index image is formed at the position, it is not necessary to specify the order of the sheets forming the index recording sheet when loading the index recording sheet, and the setting operation of the index mode is facilitated. Further, even when the image forming work is interrupted and restarted, there is a degree of freedom with respect to the discrepancy in the insertion order of the index recording sheets due to the interruption, which is easy to use.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an index sheet.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing two types of index sheets.

FIG. 3 is an index document and an index recording sheet,
It is a figure which shows the relationship with an index sheet.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an image data processing system and a control system of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen displayed on an operation display unit.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen displayed on an operation display unit.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of an index image forming process.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Document Feeding Section 2 Image Reading Section 3 Image Forming Section GS Image Processing Section PS Recording Paper Feeding Section OD Operation Display Section CR Control Section MR Image Memory DX, DX1, DX2, DXa, DXb Index Paper DXR, DXR1, DXR2, DXR3 Index originals DXP, DXP1, DXP2, DXP3 Index recording paper DXG Index images TB1, TB2, TB3 tabs

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    F term (reference) 2C087 BB01 BB10 BD06 CA03 CB13                       DA02                 2H027 DC10 DC19 DE07 FA05 FA06                       FA27 FD08 FD10

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus comprising: an index setting unit for setting an index size; and an index forming unit for forming an index image of a size corresponding to the setting of the index setting unit on an index recording sheet. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the index setting unit sets at least the index size in a direction orthogonal to a conveyance direction of the index recording paper. 3. The index setting means sets the index size by an operation of designating a size of the index recording paper and a ratio of the index size to the size of the index recording paper. Item 2. The image forming apparatus according to Item 2. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the index setting unit sets the index size according to an operation of an operator. 5. An index reading unit for reading an index document, wherein the index setting unit sets the index size based on information including image information and scaling information of the index image read by the image reading unit. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a memory that stores index image data. 7. A size detecting means for detecting the size of a tab of the loaded index recording paper, wherein the index setting means sets the index size based on a detection signal from the size detecting means. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6. 8. An index mode is set by an index mode setting unit, a recording paper feeding unit, and the index mode setting unit, and an index recording paper is fed from the recording paper feeding unit to form an index image. At this time, the image forming apparatus has an index forming unit that forms a plurality of index images on the image carrier. 9. An index setting means for setting the size of an index image is provided.
The image forming apparatus according to item 1. 10. The index forming means changes the number and position of index images formed on the image carrier according to the index size set by the index setting means. The image forming apparatus described.