JP2005354495A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus for recording adequately without recording a received image of facsimile and the like on a manuscript by determining whether it is the manuscript or a recording paper if a sensor detects a sheet of paper, while the recording paper carrying mechanism functions also as a manuscript carrying mechanism and the manuscript detecting sensor functions also as a recording paper detecting sensor in common. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus includes a recording means for recording the image on a recording paper, a line sensor for reading the manuscript, and a white reference plate used for shading compensation. A recording paper passing path and a manuscript passing path share the path partly in common. The image forming apparatus includes a means for determining whether it is the manuscript or a sheet of recording paper from the image data read by the line sensor. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

The present invention relates to a digital image forming / reading apparatus, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus such as a facsimile machine in which a recording paper passage and a document passage are partially shared.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an outline of a conventional inkjet facsimile apparatus FS11.

  The conventional facsimile apparatus FS11 is composed of two large parts, an image reading unit and an image forming unit.

  The image reading unit includes a reading device 21 using a photoelectric conversion device such as a contact image sensor (CIS), a white reference plate 22, a document roller 23 for conveying a document, a document detection sensor 24 for detecting a document, and a document table. 25, a document transport motor for driving the document transport roller 23, and the like.

  On the other hand, the image forming unit includes an ink cartridge 11, a recording paper conveyance roller 12, a recording paper sensor 15, a document table 16, a cartridge driving unit (not shown), and the like.

  In other parts, a display unit and the like are provided.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an ink jet facsimile apparatus using an ink jet printer as a printer of the facsimile apparatus is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2000-59551 A

  However, in the above-described conventional example, it is necessary to separately provide the document-type conveying means and the recording-type conveying means, which has the disadvantage of increasing the size and cost of the facsimile apparatus.

  In order to eliminate this drawback, it is conceivable that the transport mechanism used for transporting the recording paper also serves as the document transport mechanism. That is, a configuration in which the feeding roller, the paper discharge roller, the document driving motor, and the like used for document conveyance are deleted and the document sensor and the recording sheet sensor are made common is conceivable. In this way, not only downsizing but also manufacturing cost reduction can be realized.

  However, as described above, in the image facsimile apparatus in which the transport mechanism used for transporting the recording paper also serves as the document transport mechanism, the document detection sensor and the recording paper detection sensor are common. It is impossible to determine whether it is a recording sheet or a recording sheet, and there is a problem that a received image of a facsimile may be recorded on a document.

  The above problem also occurs in an image forming apparatus other than a facsimile apparatus.

In the image forming apparatus in which the transport mechanism used for transporting the recording paper also serves as the document transport mechanism and the document detection sensor and the recording paper detection sensor are common, the document is a document when the sensor detects the paper. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus capable of appropriately recording a facsimile received image or the like without recording it on a document by determining whether the sheet is a recording sheet or not.

The present invention comprises a recording means for recording an image on recording paper, a line sensor for reading an original, and a white reference plate for shading correction, and the recording paper passage path and the original passage path share a part of the path. In the image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus includes means for determining whether the image is a document or a recording sheet based on image data read by the line sensor.

According to the present invention, in the image forming apparatus in which the transport mechanism used for transporting the recording paper also serves as the document transport mechanism, and the document detection sensor and the recording paper detection sensor are common, when the sensor detects the paper, Therefore, it is possible to determine whether the received image of the facsimile is properly recorded without being recorded on the original.

  The best mode for carrying out the invention is the following embodiment.

  FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a facsimile apparatus FS1 that is Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

  The facsimile apparatus FS1 is an example of an image forming apparatus, and has a recording function for recording an image on recording paper as a recording medium and a reading function for reading an image of a document as a read medium. Are arranged in the conveyance path in the vicinity of the recording unit having the recording function and the reading unit having the scanner function.

  That is, the facsimile apparatus FS1 includes the ink jet cartridge 1, the reading unit 2, the white reference plate 3, the paper base 5, the paper detection means 6, and the paper transport roller 7.

  The ink jet cartridge 1 records an image on a recording sheet. The reading unit 2 includes a contact image sensor (CIS) that reads a document line by line, a sensor case, and the like. The white reference plate 3 is for acquiring shading data, and the reading unit 2 reads the white reference plate 3 to acquire white data for shading correction.

  The paper tray 5 is loaded with originals and recording paper. The paper detection means 6 detects the presence or absence of a document or recording paper placed on the paper base 5. The paper transport roller 7 is rotated by a motor to transport the paper.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the facsimile apparatus FS1.

  The facsimile apparatus FS1 includes a control unit 101, a ROM 102, a RAM 103, an operation display unit 104, a CIS (contact image sensor) 105, a read image processing unit 106, a printing unit 107, a recorded image processing unit 108, A transport unit 109 and a sensor unit 110 are included.

  The control unit 101 controls the entire facsimile apparatus FS1, and controls the entire facsimile apparatus FS1 via the system bus.

  The ROM 102 is a memory that stores program codes such as operation instruction groups, operating system (OS) program codes, initial value data, table data, and the like.

  A RAM 103 is a memory used for an image buffer, an image memory, and the like, and is used as a buffer that temporarily holds image data when facsimile transmission / reception is performed. It is also used as a memory for storing received image data as a file. The RAM 103 is protected from an unexpected failure such as a power failure by battery backup.

  The operation display unit 104 registers ten keys used for dialing, data registration, setting, etc., function keys for using various functions, telephone numbers, etc., one-touch keys used for one-touch dialing, transmission, etc. Various keys such as a start key used when starting reception, copying, etc., various key switches such as a stop key used when stopping transmission, registration, setting, etc., and various messages such as communication status confirmation, data registration, setting, confirmation message, etc. It is composed of various kinds of LEDs such as an LCD that displays the lamp, a lamp that lights during communication, and a lamp that lights when various errors occur, and displays the status of the apparatus, the telephone number of the calling party, time information, operation procedures, and the like.

  A contact image sensor (CIS) 105 for image reading converts an image optically read at a predetermined resolution into an electrical image signal, and reads the white reference plate 3 to obtain shading data.

  The read image processing unit 106 performs shading correction and the like on the signal read by the CIS 105, and further performs image processing such as binarization processing and halftone processing, and outputs high-definition image data. Further, shading data is acquired from the data of the white reference plate 3 read by the CIS 105.

  The printing unit 107 includes the inkjet cartridge 1, a motor that drives the cartridge, and a drive control unit that performs drive control.

  The recorded image processing unit 108 performs various image processing such as resolution conversion, smoothing, and density correction for converting raw image data having a scanning resolution of 8 pel / mm into raw image data having a main scanning resolution of 360 dpi (dots per inch) of the printer. Are converted into high-definition image data and output to the ink jet cartridge 1.

  The transport unit 109 includes a paper transport motor that transports the document and the recording paper in the one-pass transport path, and a paper transport control unit that controls the paper transport motor.

  The sensor unit 110 detects the paper by the movement of the paper detection means 6 that detects the state of the original and the recording paper.

  The CIS 105 and the control unit 101 are examples of a determination unit that determines whether the document is a document or a recording sheet based on image data read by the line sensor.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation of discriminating between a document and a recording sheet at the time of image reading in the facsimile apparatus FS1.

  In S101, when the paper placed on the paper tray 5 is detected, in S102, it is determined whether or not the reading start button has been pressed by the user. When the reading start button is pressed, in S103, it is determined that the paper set on the paper table is a document, and the document flag is turned ON.

  Next, in S104, the conveyance unit 109 conveys the original to the reading start position. In S104, the CIS 105 reads line by line while conveying the original. When the reading is completed in S105, the document flag is turned OFF and the process proceeds to the next process (transmission process or the like).

  On the other hand, if the reading start button is not pressed by the user in S102, in S106, the user presses the reading start button or performs a timer operation for a certain time. In S106, a predetermined time is counted, and after the predetermined time has elapsed, in S107, the original is conveyed to the reading start position and read line by line.

  If it is determined that all the images read in one line in S108 are “white pixels”, in S109, the paper is read for the predetermined number of lines, and if all the pixels are white pixels, in S110, The recording paper flag is turned on, and it is determined that the paper is recording paper. In S111, the motor of the transport unit 109 is reversed to transport the paper to the recording start position and wait.

  On the other hand, if it is detected in S108 that there is a black pixel, in S112, it is determined that the paper is a document, and the document flag is turned ON. In S113, the motor of the transport unit 109 is reversed to transport the paper to the reading start position and wait. In step S114, the display unit 104 displays “document present” and waits.

  Next, processing when the facsimile apparatus FS1 receives a facsimile image will be described.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation when the facsimile apparatus FS1 receives a facsimile image.

  When the facsimile is received in S201, the received image is stored in the image memory in S202. In S203, if the recording flag is ON, there is a recording sheet on the document table 5, so a recorded image is printed, and the process proceeds to S204. If the recording paper flag is OFF in S203, there is no recording paper on the document table, so that the process waits. In S204, one page of image is printed, and in S205, the recording paper flag is turned OFF.

  In S206, it is checked whether or not there is a sheet on the document table 5, and if there is no sheet, the process waits. If there is a sheet, the document detection operation shown in FIG. 3 is performed in S207. In S208, if the recording paper flag is OFF, it is not a recording paper on the paper tray 5, so that it waits. In S208, if the recording paper flag is ON, there is a recording paper in the paper tray 5, and if there is a received image in the memory in S209, the process returns to S204 to print the received image in the memory.

  According to the above embodiment, in the image forming apparatus in which the transport mechanism used for transporting the recording paper also serves as the document transport mechanism and the document detection sensor and the recording paper detection sensor are common, when the sensor detects the paper, It is possible to determine whether the document is a document or recording paper, and recording can be performed appropriately.

The above embodiment may be applied to an image forming apparatus other than a facsimile machine such as a personal computer.

1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a facsimile machine FS1 that is Embodiment 1 of the present invention. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a facsimile apparatus FS1. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of discriminating between a document and a recording sheet when reading an image in the facsimile apparatus FS1. 7 is a flowchart showing an operation when a facsimile image is received in the facsimile apparatus FS1. It is a figure which shows the outline of the conventional inkjet facsimile apparatus FS11.

Explanation of symbols

FS1 ... facsimile machine,
1 ... inkjet cartridge,
2 ... reading unit,
3 ... White reference plate,
5 ... Paper stand,
6 ... paper detection means,
7: Paper transport roller,
101 ... control unit,
102 ... ROM,
103 ... RAM,
104 ... operation display section,
105 ... CIS,
106... Read image processing unit,
107: Print section,
108 ... a recorded image processing unit,
109 ... conveying section,
110: Sensor unit.

Claims (4)

In an image forming apparatus comprising a recording means for recording an image on recording paper, a line sensor for reading an original, and a white reference plate for shading correction, and the recording paper passage path and the original passage path share a part of the path ,
An image forming apparatus comprising: a determination unit configured to determine whether the document is a document or a recording sheet based on image data read by the line sensor. In claim 1,
If the black line is included when the predetermined number of lines on the paper is read, the determining means determines that the paper is a manuscript. On the other hand, when the predetermined number of lines on the paper is read, An image forming apparatus comprising: a unit that determines a document and a recording sheet by determining that the sheet is a recording sheet when the pixel is a white pixel. An image forming apparatus including a recording unit that records an image on a recording sheet, a line sensor that reads a document, and a white reference plate for shading correction, and the recording sheet passing path and the document passing path share a part of the path. In the control method,
A control method for an image forming apparatus, comprising: a determination step of determining whether a paper set in the image forming apparatus is a document or a recording paper based on image data read by the line sensor. In claim 3,
If the black line is included when the predetermined number of lines on the paper is read, the determining step determines that the paper is a manuscript, and on the other hand, when the predetermined number of lines on the paper is read, If the white pixel is a white pixel, it is a means for discriminating a document and a recording sheet by determining that the sheet is a recording sheet.

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