JP2003287981A - Image recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image recorder that records pieces of image data with different size on both sides or one side of recording paper according to desire. <P>SOLUTION: When a setting key 61 is operated, the respective items regarding copy forms of pieces of the image data with different size and a message for making an operator select a desired item among the respective items are displayed on a display part 70. Then, any of forms as 'double-sided copy to larger size', 'double-sided copy to smaller size' and 'single-sided copy according to the respective size' is preset and stored in a RAM as the copy form by operations of a cross key 62 and a soft key 63. Consequently, pieces of the image data with different size are recorded on both sides or one side of the recording paper according to the desire. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus such as a facsimile machine having a copying function (hereinafter referred to as a multifunction machine), and more particularly, an image recording apparatus having a function of recording image data on both sides of recording paper. It relates to the device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a multifunction peripheral has a function of recording image data of front and back sides of a double-sided original or two single-sided originals on both sides of a recording sheet. By using this double-sided recording function, the document can be read by the reading unit, and the image data obtained by the reading can be copied on both sides of the recording paper.

[0003]

However, in double-sided copying, the recording paper is selected according to the size of the original document read first. For example, if the first read original size is A4 and the next read original size is A3,
A4 recording paper is selected. Then, after the first image data of A4 is printed at the same size on the front surface of the recording paper of A4, the next image data of A3 is reduced to A4 and recorded on the back surface of the recording paper of A4, or Part of the image data is A4 in normal size
Is recorded on the back side of the recording paper. That is, in the case of double-sided copying, the recording paper corresponding to the size of the original document read first is compulsorily selected in order to reduce the time required for the first copy.

The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and an object thereof is to record image data of different sizes on both sides or one side of a recording sheet as desired. An object is to provide an image recording device.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, in the invention described in claim 1, the recording means for recording the image data on both sides of the recording paper, and the image data of different sizes to a large size. According to the recording mode set by the setting means and the recording mode set by the setting means for recording on both sides of the corresponding recording paper or on both sides of the recording paper according to the small size, the size is set in the recording means. And control means for recording different image data on both sides of the recording paper.

According to the second aspect of the invention, recording means for recording the image data on both sides or one side of the recording sheet and image data of different sizes are recorded on both sides of the recording sheet according to a large size, or a small size. Setting means for setting whether to print on both sides of the recording paper according to the above or on one side of the recording paper according to each size, and the recording means based on the recording style set by the setting means And a control means for recording image data of different sizes on both sides or one side of the recording paper.

According to a third aspect of the invention, in the image recording apparatus according to the first or second aspect, there is provided a display means for displaying a message prompting the setting of the recording format, and the control means includes both sides of the recording paper. If the recording format is not set when the image data size to be recorded in 1 is different, a message for prompting the setting of the recording format is displayed on the display means.

[0008]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment in which an image recording apparatus according to the present invention is embodied in a multifunction machine will be described below with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, the MPU 1
0, ROM 20, RAM 30, reading unit 40, recording unit 5
0, an operation unit 60, a display unit 70, an image memory 80, a codec 90, a modem 100 and an NCU 110, and each unit 10 to 110 is connected via a bus 120.

The MPU 10 controls each part of the multifunction machine 1. The ROM 20 stores a program for controlling the multifunction device 1. The RAM 30 temporarily stores various types of information regarding the multifunction device 1.

The reading section 40 reads an image on a document and outputs black-and-white binary image data to the codec 90.
The recording unit 50 includes an electrophotographic printer,
The image data received in the FAX operation and the image data obtained by the reading by the reading unit 40 in the copy operation are recorded on the recording paper.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the operating portion 60
Is a setting key 61 for setting the copy mode of image data of different sizes, a cross key 62 for allowing the operator to select a desired item from among the items related to the copy mode displayed on the display unit 70, and a display. A soft key 63 for selecting an item displayed at the bottom of the section 70 is provided.
Here, the copy style is a copy method for copying two originals of different sizes, and is "double-sided copy for large size", "double-sided copy for small size" and "single-sided copy according to each size". ". Then, when the copy mode is set to “double-sided copy to large size”, image data of different sizes are double-sided copied onto the recording paper corresponding to the large size. Further, when "duplex copy to small size" is set, image data of different sizes are copied to both sides of the recording paper according to the small size. Furthermore, "one-sided copy according to each size"
When set to, single-sided copying of image data of different sizes is performed on recording paper corresponding to each size.

Further, the operation unit 60 is "communication (FAX)".
Communication / copy key for setting operation or “copy” operation, numeric keypad (including *, # keys) for inputting telephone number (including FAX number) or number of copies, start reading document It is equipped with various operation keys such as a start key for. The display unit 70 is composed of an LCD and displays various kinds of information such as the operating state of the multifunction machine 1.

The image memory 80 shown in FIG.
The image data read by and encoded by the codec 90 and the received image data are temporarily stored. Codec 90
Displays the image data input from the reading unit 40 as MH, MR,
Encoding according to MMR, JBIG, etc.
To do. The codec 90 also decodes the image data read from the image memory 80.

The modem 100 is based on the ITU-T recommendation T.264. Thirty
The facsimile transmission control procedure according to 1
7, V.I. 27 ter, V.I. The transmission data is modulated and the reception data is demodulated according to 29 or the like. The NCU 110 has a function of closing and opening the telephone line L, a function of transmitting a dial signal corresponding to the telephone number of the other party, and a function of detecting an incoming call.

Next, the operation when presetting the copy mode of image data of different sizes will be described with reference to FIG.
First, when the setting key 61 is operated, the MPU 10 causes the display unit 70 to display each item regarding the copy style and a message for allowing the operator to select a desired item from the items. Specifically, as shown in FIG.
Display section 7 for each item of "Large-sided copy to large size", "Small-sided copy" and "One-sided copy according to each size" and "Select items with the cross key"
Display at 0. Then, after selecting one of the items relating to the copy style by operating the cross key 62, the soft key 63 is operated to set the copy style (set).
Then, the set copy mode is permanently stored in the RAM 30 until a new copy mode is set. As a result, thereafter, image data of different sizes are copied on both sides or one side based on the copy mode until a new copy mode is set.

Next, the operation of the multi-function device 1 during double-sided copying will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.
It should be noted that this operation is executed under the control of the MPU 10 based on the program stored in the ROM 20.

When the front and back sides of a double-sided original or two single-sided originals are read by the reading unit 40, the image data size of the original read first and the original read next based on the image data obtained by the reading. It is determined whether or not the image data size is the same (S1). A sensor for detecting the document size may be provided in the reading unit 40, and whether the document size is the same or not may be determined based on the detection signal from the sensor.

When the image data size is the same, both sides of the image data are copied on the recording paper of a predetermined size (S2). For example, if the image data size of the first read document and the image data size of the next read document are both A4, the recording paper of A4 is selected. Then, after the first A4 image data is recorded on the front surface of the A4 recording paper at the same size, the next A4 image data is recorded on the back surface of the A4 recording paper at the same size. On the other hand, when the image data sizes are different (“NO” in S1), it is determined whether or not the copy mode is set to “double-sided copy in large size” (S3).

In the case of "double-sided copy to a large size", image data of different sizes are double-sided copied onto a recording sheet corresponding to a large size (S4). For example, when the image data size of the first read document is A4 and the image data size of the next read document is A3, A3 recording paper is selected. Then, the first A4 image data is scaled to A
After recording on the front surface of the recording paper of No. 3, the next image data of A3 is recorded on the back surface of the recording paper of A3 at the same size. In the case of "duplex copy to large size", image data of small size may be enlarged to a large size and recorded. On the other hand, if "double-sided copy in large size" is not set ("NO" in S3), it is determined whether or not "double-sided copy in small size" is set (S5).

In the case of "double-sided copy to small size", image data of different sizes are double-sided copied onto recording paper corresponding to the small size (S6). For example, when the image data size of the first read document is A4 and the image data size of the next read document is A3, A4 recording paper is selected. Then, the first A4 image data is scaled to A
After recording on the front surface of the recording paper of No. 4, a part of the image data of the next A3 is recorded at the same size on the back surface of the recording paper of A4. still,
In the case of "duplex copy to small size", the image data of large size may be reduced to a small size and recorded. On the other hand, if "duplex copy to small size" is not set ("NO" in S5), it is determined whether "single-sided copy according to each size" is set (S7).

In the case of "single-sided copy according to each size", image data of different sizes is copied on one side of the recording paper corresponding to each size (S8). For example, when the image data size of the first read document is A4 and the image data size of the next read document is A3, A4 recording paper and A3 recording paper are selected. And the first A4
After the single-sided copy of the image data of A to the recording sheet of A4, the next image data of A3 is single-sided and copied to the recording sheet of A3. On the other hand, if no copy mode has been set in advance (“N” in S3, S5, and S7).
O ”), each item and message relating to the copy format shown in FIG. 2 are displayed on the display unit 70 (S9). After that, when a copy style is set by operating the cross key 62 and the soft key 63, the set copy style is permanently stored in the RAM 30 until a new copy style is set. As a result, thereafter, image data of different sizes are copied on both sides or one side based on the copy mode until a new copy mode is set (S3 to S).
8).

When the copy style is set by the cross key 62 and the soft key 63 based on the message prompting the setting of the copy style (S9), a series of copy operations for the set copy style are completed. The configuration may be such that it is temporarily stored in the RAM 30 until it is performed. With this configuration, you can temporarily set the desired copy style,
Image data of different sizes can be copied on both sides or one side.

As described above in detail, according to this embodiment, the following actions and effects can be obtained. (1) When the setting key 61 is operated, the display unit 70 displays a message for prompting the operator to select each item relating to the copy styles of image data of different sizes and the desired item among these items. There is. And cross key 6
By operating 2 and the soft key 63, any one of “double-sided copy for large size”, “double-sided copy for small size”, and “single-sided copy according to each size” is preset and stored in the RAM 30. Therefore,
Image data of different sizes can be recorded on both sides or one side of the recording paper as desired.

(2) If none of the copy styles is set in advance, each item related to the copy style and a message for prompting the operator to select a desired item from the respective items are displayed on the display unit 70. It is displayed. In other words, when the image data size for double-sided copying on the recording paper is different and the copy style is not set in advance, a message prompting the setting of the copy style is displayed on the display unit 70. Then, as in (1) above, the copy mode is set and stored in the RAM 30. That is, when the copy style is not set in advance, an opportunity to set the copy style is given. Therefore, it is possible to reliably reflect the desire of the operator.

The above embodiment can be modified and embodied as follows. -In FIG. 3, if the image data size is different (S
1, "NO"), regardless of whether or not the copy style is set in advance, each item and message relating to the copy style shown in FIG. 2 may be displayed on the display unit 70 as a message prompting the setting of the copy style. Good. With this configuration, when the image data size is different, the opportunity to set the copy style is given regardless of whether or not the copy style is set in advance, so that the operator's desire is surely reflected. Can be made. For example, when the preset copy style is different from the desired copy style, the desired copy style is newly set by the cross key 62 and the soft key 63 based on the message prompting the setting of the copy style. Therefore, the copy based on the previous setting different from the desired copy format is avoided, so that the miscopy can be prevented.

In the configuration in which a message prompting the setting of the copy style is displayed on the display unit 70 regardless of whether the copy style is preset as described above, the copy style set based on the message is displayed. The RAM 30 may be temporarily stored until a series of copying operations are completed. With this configuration, it is possible to temporarily set a desired copy format and perform double-sided or single-sided copying of image data of different sizes.

As the item relating to the copy style, "double-sided copy to intermediate size" may be displayed on the display unit 70. With this configuration, for example, when the image data size of the first read document is A4 and the image data size of the next read document is A3, and when the “duplex copy to intermediate size” is set, The recording paper of B4 is selected. Then, after the first image data of A4 is printed at the same size or enlarged to B4 and recorded on the surface of the recording paper of B4, a part of the image data of the next A3 is printed at the same size or the image data of A3 is B4. And is recorded on the back side of the B4 recording paper.

External device (eg scanner or personal computer)
From a communications network or serial cable (eg,
It may be embodied in an image recording device such as a printer that records image data input via RS-232C).

Further, the technical idea grasped from each of the above embodiments will be described below together with their effects. [1] The image recording apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a display unit for displaying a message prompting the user to set a recording format, and the control unit has different image data sizes to be recorded on both sides of the recording paper. Is an image recording device that causes a display unit to display a message prompting the user to set a recording format. According to this structure, when the image data size is different, an opportunity to set the recording format is given regardless of whether the recording format is set, so that the operator's desire is surely reflected. be able to.

[2] The image recording apparatus according to claim 3 or the above [1], further comprising storage means for storing the recording format, and the control means is configured by the setting means based on a message prompting the setting of the recording format. An image recording device for temporarily storing the set recording mode in a storage when the recording mode is set. With this configuration, it is possible to temporarily set a desired recording format and record image data of different sizes on both sides or one side of the recording paper.

[0032]

Since the present invention is constructed as described above, it has the following effects. Claim 1 or Claim 2
According to the invention described in (1), it is possible to record image data of different sizes on both sides or one side of recording paper as desired.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, in particular, when the recording format is not set in advance, an opportunity to set the recording format is given, so that the operator's wishes can be surely reflected. You can

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a multifunction peripheral.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an operation when setting a copy mode.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation during double-sided copying.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Multifunction machine as image recording device, 10 ... MPU forming control means, 20 ... ROM forming control means, 30
... RAM constituting control means and storage means, 50 ... Recording section as recording means, 61 ... Setting key constituting setting means, 62 ... Cross key constituting setting means, 63 ... Soft key constituting setting means, 70 ... A display unit as display means.

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    F term (reference) 2H027 DB09 FA05 FA06 FA13 FD08                       GA12 GA16 GA30 GB14 GB19                       ZA07                 2H028 BA02 BA03 BA05 BB01 BB02                 5C062 AA05 AA06 AA14 AB20 AB22                       AB25 AB38 AB41 AB42 AC04                       AC09 AC58 AF10 AF11

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A recording means for recording image data on both sides of a recording sheet, and image data of different sizes for recording on both sides of a recording sheet according to a large size or for recording on both sides of a recording sheet according to a small size. An image recording apparatus comprising: a setting unit that sets a recording mode to be used; and a control unit that causes the recording unit to record image data of different sizes on both sides of a recording sheet based on the recording mode set by the setting unit. 2. A recording means for recording image data on both sides or one side of a recording sheet, and recording image data of different sizes on both sides of the recording sheet according to a large size, or both sides of the recording sheet according to a small size. Setting means for setting the recording mode for recording on one side of the recording paper according to each size, and the image data of different sizes to the recording means based on the recording mode set by the setting means. An image recording apparatus comprising: a control unit for recording on both sides or one side of a recording sheet. 3. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising display means for displaying a message prompting the user to set a recording format, and the control means sets the image data size to be recorded on both sides of the recording paper. An image recording device for displaying a message for prompting the setting of the recording format on the display means when the recording format is not set when different.