JP2005283874A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To surely acquire the size of recording paper in the case of using amorphous size recording paper. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus is equipped with an image reading means, an image processing means equipped with a function for detecting document size from image data, an automatic document feeding means for feeding a document to the image reading part of the image reading means, an image forming means for forming a visible image in accordance with the image data on the recording paper, a paper feeding means for feeding the recording paper accumulated in a paper supply tray to the image forming means, and a control means which controls the automatic document feeding means to feed the first sheet of recording paper placed on a document placing part to the image reading means so as to perform reading in the case of placing a sheet of recording paper out of the recording paper accumulated in the paper supply tray at the first sheet read position of the document placing part, acquires the size detected by the image processing means from the image data obtained by such reading, and sets the acquired size as the size of the recording paper, whereby the image of a document is read and formed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus capable of appropriately performing size detection of an irregular size recording sheet in an image forming apparatus capable of selecting an irregular size recording sheet.

  In an image forming apparatus that forms a visible image such as a toner image on a recording paper, the size information regarding the vertical and horizontal sizes of the transfer paper is, in the case of a standard size recording paper, a paper feed on which the recording paper is placed. Generally, size information automatically detected by a tray or the like is used.

  In addition, in such a paper feed tray that does not have an automatic detection function of the transfer paper size, image formation is executed by referring to size data set in advance in the apparatus main body for each paper feed tray at the time of paper feed. I have to.

  Note that even when a paper tray having an automatic detection function is used, for example, when recording paper of an undetectable size is used, the “undefined size” is set as the size in the main scanning direction by the user or a key operator. A numerical value of the size in the scanning direction is input, and the input size information is used to control paper feeding and image formation.

In order to input the recording paper size in this way, the user or the key operator needs to actually measure the recording paper size using a ruler or the like. Alternatively, it is necessary to operate the image forming apparatus in the size detection mode, execute a scan, register the measurement result in the apparatus, and select a size from the registered values (see Patent Document 1).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-282843 (first page, FIG. 1)

If such an irregular size recording paper is used, if there is an error in the input of the size, this may cause a problem such as a jam during paper feeding or conveyance.
Also, since there is only one recording paper size that can be stored corresponding to one paper feed tray, when using multiple types of irregular-size recording paper of different sizes, each time the size data Input operation is required. As a result, the number of man-hours for the user or key operator increases, and the probability of jamming due to an input error increases.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and provides an image forming apparatus capable of reliably obtaining a size in image formation using an irregular size recording paper. The purpose is to do.

The present invention for solving the above problems is as described below.
(1) An invention according to claim 1 is an image forming apparatus for forming and outputting a visible image corresponding to image data on a recording paper, and an image reading means for generating image data from an image of a read original. An image processing unit having a function of detecting a document size from the image data, and an automatic document feeding unit that feeds a document placed on a document placing unit to an image reading portion of the image reading unit An image forming means for forming a visible image corresponding to the image data on a recording paper, a paper feeding means for feeding the recording paper stored in a paper feed tray to the image forming means, and the paper supply When one of the recording sheets stored in the paper tray is placed at the first reading position of the document placement unit, the first sheet placed on the document placement unit is The image reading means by the automatic document feeding means Feeding the original reading portion to execute reading, obtaining the size detected by the image processing means from the image data obtained by reading, and determining the obtained size as the size of the recording paper An image forming apparatus comprising: a control unit that controls each unit so as to read an image and form an image on the original on the original placing unit.

  (2) In the invention described in claim 2, the control unit is configured to cause the automatic document feeding unit to print a first sheet placed on the document placing unit when an irregular-size recording sheet is selected. To feed the original reading portion of the image reading means to execute reading, acquire the size detected by the image processing means from the image data obtained by reading, and record the acquired size The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein after determining the size of the paper, each unit is controlled to read an image and form an image on the document on the document placement unit.

  (3) The invention described in claim 3 comprises display means for displaying various information and operation means for inputting various operations, wherein the control means is configured to select an irregular-size recording sheet. From the image data obtained by reading, the first document placed on the document placing section is fed by the automatic document feeding means to the document reading portion of the image reading means, and reading is performed. The operation of acquiring the size detected by the image processing unit, displaying the acquired size on the display unit as the size of the recording paper, and accepting the size of the recording paper displayed on the display unit is the operation If not input to the means, the first sheet placed on the document placing portion at that time is fed to the document reading portion of the image reading means by the automatic document feeding means and read. The size detected by the image processing unit is acquired from the image data obtained by reading, and the acquired size is displayed on the display unit again as the size of the recording paper, and displayed on the display unit. When an operation for approving the size of the recording paper is input to the operation means, each unit is configured to read an image and form an image on the document placed on the document placement unit at that time. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is controlled.

According to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) In the first aspect of the present invention, the image reading means has a function of detecting the document size from the image data, and one of the recording sheets stored in the sheet feeding tray is the document placement section. When placed at the reading first sheet position, the automatic document feeding means causes the recording paper placed at the reading first sheet position of the document placing portion to the document reading portion of the image reading means. The image reading means acquires the size of the fed recording paper, determines the acquired size as the size of the recording paper, and reads the image for the second and subsequent documents on the document placement unit. Image formation.

  This eliminates the need for size input and mode setting by the user or key operator even when using recording paper of a size that cannot be detected by the paper feed tray, and enables size acquisition and image formation in a series of operations. Therefore, the acquisition of the size can be surely executed in the image formation using the irregular-size recording paper.

  (2) In the invention according to claim 2, when an irregular-size recording sheet is selected, the automatic document feeding means removes the sheet placed at the first reading position of the document placing portion from the image. The image reading unit obtains the size of the fed recording paper, determines the obtained size as the size of the recording paper, and determines the size of the original on the document placement unit. Image reading and image formation are performed for the second and subsequent sheets.

  This eliminates the need for size input and mode setting by the user or key operator even when using recording paper of a size that cannot be detected by the paper feed tray. Since the size acquisition and the start of image formation are continuously executed in a series of operations, it is possible to reliably execute the size acquisition in the image formation using the irregular size recording paper.

  (3) In the invention described in claim 3, when an irregular-size recording sheet is selected, the automatic document feeding means removes the sheet placed at the first reading position of the document placing portion from the image. The paper is fed to the document reading portion of the reading means, the image reading means acquires the size of the fed recording paper, and the acquired size is displayed on the display means. If an operation for approving the size of the displayed recording paper is not performed, the above-described automatic document feeding unit repeats feeding, size acquisition, and size display. When an operation for approving the size of the displayed recording paper is performed, the acquired size is determined as the size of the recording paper, and the original image is read and the image is formed on the original placement unit.

  This eliminates the need for size input and mode setting by the user or key operator even when using recording paper of a size that cannot be detected by the paper feed tray. In the series of operations, the size acquisition and the start of image formation are executed continuously, and the size acquisition is repeated until the user approves. The acquisition can be executed reliably.

The best mode for carrying out the present invention (hereinafter referred to as an embodiment) will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a circuit configuration diagram showing an electrical configuration of a copying machine as an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an external configuration of a copying machine to which the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention can be applied.

  In FIG. 1, 101 is a CPU as a control means for controlling the entire apparatus, 102 is an operation input unit for inputting operation of setting of the image forming apparatus by a user or a key operator, and 103 displays the state of the apparatus to the user. It is a display unit. In addition, although the operation input part and display part which perform operation input and a display separately were shown here, the structure of the operation display part which performs both may be sufficient. An information holding unit 104 holds various types of information related to image formation.

  Reference numeral 110 denotes a scanner that optically scans and reads image information of a document to generate image data, an image reading unit that scans the image of the document to generate image data, and the document to the image reading unit. And automatic document feeding means (ADF) for automatically feeding. In the scanner 110, the document placed on the document placing portion 111 (see FIG. 3) is automatically fed and scanned to generate image data, and the document is placed on the platen glass one by one. Can be scanned in two ways, such as when the user places and scans to generate image data. Here, when the document is placed on the platen glass with the reading surface facing downward, the reading optical system performs scanning by scanning along the platen glass. When the document is automatically fed, reading is performed with the reading optical system fixed.

  An image processing unit 120 performs predetermined image processing on image data obtained by reading with the scanner 110, and may include an image memory having a predetermined capacity for holding image data as necessary.

  A print engine 130 forms and outputs an image (toner image) corresponding to image data on a recording sheet, and supplies a desired recording sheet from the sheet feeding tray (sheet feeding trays 132a to 132d) to the image forming unit. A paper feeding unit 132 that feeds paper, a transport unit 134 that feeds the fed recording paper at a predetermined speed, an image writing unit 136 that generates a laser beam according to image data, and a latent image according to the laser beam. And an image forming unit 138 that generates a toner image and transfers the toner image onto a recording sheet.

  Here, recording paper of a predetermined size is stored in each of the paper feed cassettes 132a to 132d (see FIG. 3), and in addition to the standard sizes such as A4, B4, and A4R, the irregular sizes that are not classified into the standard sizes. It is possible that recording paper of a size is accumulated.

  Hereinafter, the operation of the image forming apparatus of the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. Here, an operation involving size acquisition (size detection and size determination) when an irregular-size recording sheet is selected will be described.

  First, the CPU 101 of the image forming apparatus displays an initial screen for image formation (see FIG. 4) on the display unit 103. In FIG. 4, it is determined that the second paper feed tray uses recording paper of an irregular size.

  In accordance with this initial screen, the user inputs various copy conditions (color mode, single / double-sided selection, paper size selection, copy magnification, application settings, etc.) to the operation input unit 102. Then, the CPU 101 detects various copying conditions input by the operation input unit 102 (S1 in FIG. 2).

  In this way, the CPU 101 sets copy conditions according to various copy conditions input to the operation input unit 102. Under this input copying condition, the CPU 101 checks whether or not an irregular size tray is selected as the paper size (S2 in FIG. 2).

  If a non-standard size tray is not selected as the paper size under the various input copying conditions (N in FIG. 2), a normal standard size tray is selected, so that the known size is known according to the input copying conditions. The original is read (S12 in FIG. 2) and the image forming process (S13 in FIG. 2) is executed.

  On the other hand, if an irregular size tray is selected as the paper size under the various input copying conditions (Y in FIG. 2), the CPU 101 displays an operation screen for setting a special size on the display unit 103 (see FIG. 5). Is displayed.

  In this special size setting screen, the user can input numerical values for the vertical and horizontal sizes of the irregular-size transfer paper by using the numeric keypad (see FIG. 5A). In addition, an automatic size detection mode can be used instead of numerical value input (see FIG. 5 (2)).

  When the automatic size detection mode is not selected by the user (N in FIG. 2 S3), the vertical size / horizontal size data inputted by the user (FIG. 2 S4) is reflected in the control by the CPU 101 (S5 in FIG. 2). Then, according to the input vertical size / horizontal size, the CPU 101 executes document reading (FIG. 2 S12) and image forming processing (FIG. 2 S13) according to a known normal procedure.

  When the automatic size detection mode is selected by the user (Y in FIG. 2 S), the recording paper of the irregular size scheduled to be used by the user is taken out from the paper feed tray and loaded at the position of the first reading sheet of the document placing portion. The CPU 101 displays a message (see FIG. 6A) that prompts the user to place the message (FIG. 6B) on the display unit 103 (S6 in FIG. 2).

  That is, when the automatic size detection mode is selected, according to the display of FIG. 6A, the user selects one of the irregular-size recording sheets to be used as shown in FIG. The document is placed on the first reading position of the document placing unit 111.

  In accordance with the placement message shown in FIG. 6A, the user places an irregular-size recording sheet on the first reading position of the document placement portion 111, and “OK” in FIG. 6A is pressed. When the CPU 101 detects this, the CPU 101 drives the ADF of the scanner 110 to read the irregular-size recording paper placed on the first reading sheet in the same manner as the original (S7 in FIG. 2).

  Then, the image data read and generated by the scanner 110 is subjected to image processing such as contour emphasis, contrast emphasis, and inclination correction processing by the image processing unit 120 based on an instruction from the CPU 101, and an outer contour portion of an irregular size recording paper. To extract.

  Further, based on the instruction from the CPU 101, the image processing unit 120 executes size recognition processing on the extracted outline contour portion. In this case, the vertical size and the horizontal size are calculated from the reading resolution of the scanner 110 and the number of dots in the outline portion, thereby obtaining size data.

In this way, the CPU 101 acquires the size data of the irregular-size recording paper placed on the first sheet to be read (S8 in FIG. 2).
Here, during the acquisition of the size data (S8 in FIG. 2), the CPU 101 displays a message (see FIG. 7) indicating that the process is being executed on the display unit 103 (S8 in FIG. 2).

  When the acquisition of the size data (FIG. 2 S8) is completed, the CPU 101 displays a message (see FIG. 8) indicating the size data of the acquired irregular size recording paper on the display unit 103 (FIG. 2 S9).

  When the CPU 101 detects that the user has acknowledged the acquired size data of the recording paper of the irregular size (Y in FIG. 2 S10) and presses “OK” in the screen of FIG. 8, the acquired size data is converted into the irregular size. The CPU 101 reflects the size of the recording paper of the size in the image forming control (S11 in FIG. 2).

  When the CPU 101 detects that the “re-execute” button in FIG. 8 has been pressed without the user's consent to the acquired size data of the irregular size recording paper, the user intends to use the irregular size recording paper. The CPU 101 displays a message (see FIG. 6A) prompting the user to take out the sheet from the paper feed tray and place it on the first reading position of the document placing portion (see FIG. 6B). 103 (FIG. 2 S6), reading (FIG. 2 S7) and acquisition of size data (FIG. 2 S8) are repeated again.

  The vertical size / horizontal size data obtained in the automatic size detection mode (S6 to S11 in FIG. 2) for the irregular size recording paper as described above is reflected in the control by the CPU 101 (S11 in FIG. 2). In accordance with the horizontal size, the CPU 101 reads a document (S12 in FIG. 2) and executes an image forming process (S13 in FIG. 2) according to a known normal procedure. At this time, there is no irregular-size recording paper in the document placing portion 111, and document reading and image forming processing can be continued in a normal state.

  As described above, even when recording paper of a size that cannot be detected by the paper feed tray is used, size input and mode setting by the user or key operator are not required, and a series of operations is performed. Since the acquisition of the size and the start of the image formation are continuously performed, it is possible to reliably execute the acquisition of the size in the image formation using the irregular size recording paper. In addition, improvement in work efficiency can be measured by reducing the work man-hours of users and key operators.

  In addition, when the user does not accept the size of the acquired irregular-size recording paper, the size acquisition is repeated until the user approves. Can be reliably executed.

Therefore, even when recording paper of an irregular size is used, an error does not occur in the acquisition of the size, and a problem such as a jam due to a recording paper size setting error does not occur.
Also, even if there is only one recording paper size that can be stored in correspondence with one paper feed tray and multiple types of irregular-size recording paper are used, the recording paper is changed. When the automatic size detection mode is executed, reliable size acquisition and image formation can be continuously performed. Therefore, reliable processing can be executed with fewer operations than in the past.

  In addition, in the above operation, it was possible to select either the numeric input mode or the automatic size detection mode for obtaining the size of irregular-size recording paper. May be automatically executed. In this way, when a paper tray for irregular size recording paper is selected, it is possible to continuously execute document reading and image formation from acquisition of irregular size recording paper with fewer operations. become.

  In the above description of the embodiment, the operation is to detect and acquire the size of the irregular-sized recording paper. However, the present invention can be applied not only to the irregular-sized recording paper but also to the standard-sized recording paper. Is possible. When applied to a standard size, good results can be obtained even when the user has difficulty in distinguishing the sizes, such as A4 size and letter size.

1 is a circuit configuration diagram showing an electrical configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. 1 is an external configuration diagram illustrating a mechanical configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state during operation of the image forming apparatus according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state during operation of the image forming apparatus according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state during operation of the image forming apparatus according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state during operation of the image forming apparatus according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state during operation of the image forming apparatus according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

100 Image forming apparatus 101 CPU
102 Operation Input Unit 103 Display Unit 104 Information Holding Unit 110 Scanner 120 Image Processing Unit 130 Print Engine

Claims (3)

An image forming apparatus that forms and outputs a visible image according to image data on a recording paper,
Image reading means for generating image data from the read document image;
Image processing means having a function of detecting a document size from the image data;
Automatic document feeding means for feeding a document placed on a document placing portion to an image reading portion of the image reading means;
Image forming means for forming a visible image on the recording paper according to the image data;
Paper feeding means for feeding the recording paper accumulated in the paper feeding tray to the image forming means;
The first sheet placed on the document placement portion when one of the recording sheets stored in the paper feed tray is placed at the first reading position of the document placement portion. The automatic document feeding means feeds the eye to the document reading portion of the image reading means to execute reading, and acquires the size detected by the image processing means from the image data obtained by the reading. Control means for controlling each unit so as to read an image and form an image with respect to the document on the document placement unit after determining the acquired size as the size of the recording paper;
An image forming apparatus comprising: When the recording paper of an irregular size is selected, the control means controls the first sheet placed on the document placing portion with respect to the document reading portion of the image reading means by the automatic document feeding means. The image processing unit obtains the size detected by the image processing unit from the image data obtained by the reading, determines the obtained size as the size of the recording paper, and then loads the document. Control each unit to read the image and form the image on the document on the placement unit,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. A display means for displaying various information and an operation means for inputting various operations;
When the recording paper of an irregular size is selected, the control means controls the first sheet placed on the document placing portion with respect to the document reading portion of the image reading means by the automatic document feeding means. To obtain the size detected by the image processing means from the image data obtained by reading, and display the obtained size on the display means as the size of the recording paper,
When an operation for accepting the size of the recording sheet displayed on the display means is not input to the operation means, the first original document placed on the document placement unit at that time is fed to the automatic document feeder. Means for feeding the original reading portion of the image reading means to execute reading, obtaining the size detected by the image processing means from the image data obtained by reading, and obtaining the obtained size. Display again on the display means as the size of the recording paper,
When an operation for approving the size of the recording sheet displayed on the display unit is input to the operation unit, the image reading and the image formation are performed on the document placed on the document placing unit at that time. And control each part to do
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.

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