JP2006231639A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus capable of discriminating the back and front/the top and bottom directions of an outputted paper not visually but tactilely. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus 10 has a post-treatment apparatus 30 performing a processing at a step outputting the paper. The post-treatment apparatus 30 performs such the processing as a cutting processing and an embossing processing on a specified corner of the outputted paper. A user judges the back and front/the top and bottom directions of the outputted paper by touching the processing made on this specified corner. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus that performs post-processing for determining the front / back / top / bottom direction of an output sheet.

  In recent years, image forming apparatuses such as printers, facsimiles, and copiers have become more sophisticated. With this advanced functionality, functions for handling paper of different sizes, double-sided printing function, paper discharge destination designation function, centralized printing function, automatic paper selection function (copy paper size is automatically detected and printed. A function for performing printing by rotating an image 90 degrees when there is only landscape paper for a vertically placed document), and the like are widely used.

  In such an image forming apparatus, the front side or the back side of the paper is discharged upward (whether the print side is discharged upward or downward), the top of the paper (upper part of the original) ) Or from the ground (lower part of the original) side, there is a problem that the paper state at the time of paper discharge differs depending on each device or each paper discharge destination.

  The above problems are that the front and back sides of the paper at the time of paper ejection are reversed between a general ink jet type image forming apparatus and an electrophotographic type image forming apparatus. Printing / printing landscape-oriented originals on vertically placed paper, whether the image rotation direction is clockwise / counterclockwise differs from device to device, and image rotation processing performed when aggregate printing is performed This is caused by the fact that the direction of rotation differs for each device.

  Since such a problem occurs, it is necessary to visually confirm the contents of printing after printing is completed and to determine the front / back / top / bottom direction of the paper.

  Such visual confirmation work significantly reduces the work efficiency of the user. In particular, it is difficult for a visually handicapped person to make a visual discrimination. Therefore, there is a need for a method that can easily determine the front / back / top / bottom direction of a sheet by a method other than vision.

  As a discrimination method using a method other than vision, a discrimination method using a tactile sensation may be considered. The following techniques are known as techniques for confirming print contents by touch.

  In Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-260, a front-side ink-printing head and a Braille-printing head and a back-side ink-printing printhead and a Braille-printing head are provided. Braille and ink-printing double-sided printers that perform Braille marking have been proposed.

  Further, Patent Document 2 proposes a printing apparatus including a printing unit that prints characters and braille in a superimposed manner by driving and controlling a paper transport mechanism, an inkjet head, and a thermal head based on print data. Yes.

Patent Document 3 proposes a stipple output device that replaces the acquired bitmap data with a sequence of points, generates coordinate data for each point, and forms convex points on the recording medium based on the coordinate data. Has been.
JP 2000-233531 A JP 2003-182158 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 08-267836

  However, the above-described technique is mainly intended to express information output on a document on a sheet in the form of Braille, and is not intended to enable determination of the front / back / top / bottom direction of the document. In addition, if you have knowledge of Braille, you can determine the direction of the paper by touching the Braille on the paper, but not all users have knowledge of Braille. Difficulty in judging the top and bottom direction is recognized.

  The present invention has been proposed in view of the above problems, and provides an image forming apparatus that allows a user to easily determine the front / back / top / bottom direction of an output sheet by touch without relying on vision. With the goal.

  According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus comprising post-processing means for performing post-processing for discriminating the front and back sides of the output paper and the vertical direction with respect to a predetermined corner of the output paper to be output. It is.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, the post-processing unit cuts the predetermined corner of the output paper.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the second aspect, the post-processing unit includes the case where the output paper is printed on one side and the case where the output paper is printed on both sides. It is characterized in that the cut shape of the predetermined corner of the output paper is made different.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the second aspect, when the output paper is printed on one side, the post-processing unit cuts one corner of the output paper and outputs the output paper. When the paper is printed on both sides, a plurality of corners of the output paper are cut.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, the post-processing means forms a hole at the predetermined corner of the output paper.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the fifth aspect, the post-processing unit includes the case where the output paper is printed on one side and the case where the output paper is printed on both sides. The shape of the hole at the predetermined corner of the output paper is made different.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the fifth aspect, the post-processing unit opens the hole at one corner of the output paper when the output paper is printed on one side. When the output paper is printed on both sides, the holes are formed in a plurality of corners of the output paper.

  According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, the post-processing unit forms a raised pattern at the predetermined corner of the output paper.

  According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the eighth aspect, the post-processing unit includes the case where the output paper is printed on one side and the case where the output paper is printed on both sides. It is characterized in that the shape of the raised pattern is different.

  According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the eighth aspect, the post-processing means forms the raised pattern at one corner of the output paper when the output paper is printed on one side. When the output paper is printed on both sides, the raised patterns are formed at a plurality of corners of the output paper.

  According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, the post-processing means strikes staples on the predetermined corner of the output paper.

  According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the eleventh aspect, the post-processing unit includes the case where the output paper is printed on one side and the case where the output paper is printed on both sides. The size of the staple to be struck at a predetermined corner is different.

  According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the eleventh aspect, the post-processing unit includes the case where the output paper is printed on one side and the case where the output paper is printed on both sides. It is characterized in that the direction of staples to be struck at a predetermined corner is different.

  According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the eleventh aspect, the post-processing unit strikes the staple on one corner of the output paper when the output paper is printed on one side. When the output paper is printed on both sides, the staple is applied to a plurality of corners of the output paper.

  According to the present invention, post-processing is performed on a predetermined corner of the output paper on which an image is formed so that the front / back / top / bottom direction of the output paper can be easily determined by tactile sense. It is possible to easily determine the front / back / top / bottom direction of the output paper.

<Image forming apparatus>
First, the configuration of the image forming apparatus of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  The image forming apparatus 10 includes a document table 11, a reading device 12, a writing device 13, a photoconductor 14, a developing device 15, a fixing device 16, a paper feed tray 17, a branching claw 18, and a refeed. A tray 19, a paper discharge roller 20, a paper discharge tray 21, and a post-processing device 30 are configured.

  The reading device 12 reads image data of a document placed on the document table 11 and transmits the read image data to the writing device 13 as an image signal. The writing device 13 irradiates the photosensitive member 14 with a writing laser (writing light) based on the image signal to form an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive member 14. The developing device 15 develops the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 11 to form a toner image. The toner image is transferred to output paper conveyed from the paper feed tray 17. The fixing device 16 thermally fixes the toner image transferred onto the paper. The output sheet on which the toner image is thermally fixed is processed by the post-processing device 30 and is discharged onto the discharge tray 21 via the discharge roller 20.

  It should be noted that the branching claw 18 is set on the upper side when performing double-sided printing. When the branching claw 18 is set on the upper side, the output paper having an image formed on one side is temporarily transported to the refeed tray 19 without being conveyed to the post-processing device 30. Then, the output paper is fed again with the back surface (the surface on which no image is formed) of the output paper as the image forming surface, and image forming processing is performed. When the image formation on both sides is completed, the branching claw 112 is set on the lower side, and the output paper subjected to double-sided printing is guided to the post-processing device 30. Then, it is processed by the post-processing device 30 and discharged onto the discharge tray 21 via the discharge roller 20.

  <Post-processing equipment>

  Next, the post-processing apparatus of this embodiment will be described. The post-processing device 30 performs processing such as cutting and embossing on the output paper on which the image is formed. By performing such processing, the user can judge and detect the front / back / top / bottom direction of the output paper by touch without relying on vision.

  The post-processing device 30 of the present embodiment includes a cutting processing device that performs cutting processing of the output paper, a punching processing device that performs punching processing of the output paper, an embossing processing device that performs embossing of the output paper, One of the staple processing apparatuses that performs the staple processing.

  Hereinafter, the processing apparatus will be specifically described.

<Cutting processing equipment>
The cutting processing apparatus has cutting means for performing cutting processing, and at the time of processing processing, the cutting means cuts any corner of the output paper.

  FIG. 2 shows the cut output paper. Here, the lower right corner of the output paper is cut. At this time, as shown in FIG. 2, the cut part is cut so that the difference between the long side and the short side of the right side is a right-angled triangle as shown in FIG.

  Note that the cutting portion needs to be large enough to be easily detected by touching it (by touch), but if it is larger than necessary, it will be a problem because it will be applied to images and print information. Therefore, the cutting part is set to fit in a size of 5 to 20 mm in length and width.

  By cutting as described above, it is possible to determine the front / back / top / bottom direction of the output paper. When actually determining, the orientation of the output paper is changed so that the cutting part comes to the lower right. When the right side of the cut portion is a long side of a right triangle, it can be determined that the front / back / top / bottom direction of the output paper is correct. On the other hand, if the lower side of the cutting part is a long side, it can be determined that the front and back sides are reversed. Therefore, turn the output paper over and change the orientation so that the cutting part comes to the lower right. You can get directions.

  At the time of executing double-sided printing, the output paper is turned over and guided to the cutting processing apparatus. At this time, if the cutting process is performed so that the cutting part comes to the lower right, the front / back / top / bottom direction of the output paper is reversed. Therefore, at the time of double-sided printing, taking this point into account, cutting is performed so that the lower right of the front surface of the output paper is cut. In the image forming apparatus 10 of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the corners facing each other in the direction in which the output paper advances (sub-scanning direction) are cut.

  In the above description, the lower right side of the front surface of the output paper is cut, but the cutting position is not limited to the lower right, and may be any of the upper right, the lower left, and the upper left. . Moreover, although the shape of the cutting part is a right triangle, it is not limited to a right triangle.

  FIG. 4 shows a processing flow during the cutting process. First, it is determined whether double-sided printing is being performed (S101). When duplex printing is not in progress (S101 / No), a predetermined corner of the output paper is cut and discharged (S102, S104). On the other hand, when duplex printing is in progress (S101 / Yes), a cutting process is performed so that a predetermined corner is cut on the front surface of the output paper, and the paper is discharged (S103, S104).

  In addition, you may make it change the shape of a cutting part at the time of single-sided printing and the time of double-sided printing. Alternatively, one corner may be cut during single-sided printing, and a plurality of corners may be cut during double-sided printing. An example is shown in FIG. By controlling in this way, it is possible to determine by hand whether the output paper is single-sided printing or double-sided printing, which can contribute to the user. It becomes.

<Drilling processing equipment>
The hole punching processing apparatus has punch means (hole punching means) for performing punching (hole punching), and at the time of the processing, the punch means performs punching on any corner of the output paper.

  FIG. 6 shows a punched output sheet. Here, the lower right corner of the output paper is punched. In addition, as shown in FIG. 6, this punching is performed at two locations that are continuous in a direction parallel to the top surface of the output paper.

  By punching in this way, it is possible to determine the front / back / top / bottom direction of the output paper. When actually determining, the orientation of the output paper is changed so that the punch hole is in the lower right. If the punch holes are arranged vertically, it can be determined that the front / back / top / bottom direction of the output paper is correct. On the other hand, if the punch holes are lined up side by side, it can be determined that the front and back sides are reversed. Therefore, turn the output paper upside down and change the orientation so that the punch holes are at the lower right. Can be obtained.

  When double-sided printing is performed, the output paper is turned over and guided to the punching processing apparatus. At this time, if punching is performed so that a punch hole is formed in the lower right, the front / back / top / bottom direction of the output paper is reversed. Therefore, at the time of duplex printing, taking this point into consideration, punching is performed so that a punch hole is provided in the lower right of the front surface of the output paper. In the image forming apparatus 10 of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, punch holes are formed at opposite corners in the direction in which the output paper advances (sub-scanning direction).

  In the above description, punching is performed on the lower right side of the front surface of the output paper, but the position where punching is performed is not limited to the lower right, and any of the upper right, lower left, and upper left positions It may be. In addition, although punching is performed at two locations that are continuous in a direction parallel to the top surface of the output sheet, the present invention is not limited to this form. As shown in FIG. 8, the front / back / top / bottom direction of the output paper can also be obtained by providing punch holes at locations where the distance between the punch position and the right side of the output paper and the distance between the punch position and the bottom side of the output paper are not equal. Can be determined.

  FIG. 9 shows a processing flow at the time of punching processing. First, it is determined whether double-sided printing is being performed (S111). If duplex printing is not in progress (S111 / No), punch processing is performed on a predetermined corner of the output paper, and the paper is discharged (S112, S114). On the other hand, when duplex printing is in progress (S111 / Yes), punch processing is performed so that punch holes are provided at predetermined corners on the front surface of the output paper, and the paper is discharged (S113, S114).

  Note that the shape of the punch hole may be changed between single-sided printing and double-sided printing. Alternatively, one corner may be punched during single-sided printing, and a plurality of corners may be punched during double-sided printing. An example is shown in FIG. By controlling in this way, it is possible to determine by hand whether the output paper is single-sided printing or double-sided printing, which can contribute to the user. It becomes.

  Note that since the existing punch processing apparatus can be used for the punching processing apparatus of the present embodiment, the image forming apparatus 10 of the present embodiment can be developed at a low development cost.

<Embossing processing equipment>
The embossing processing apparatus has a pinning means for performing embossing, and at the time of processing, the pinning means performs embossing on any corner of the output paper.

  FIG. 11 shows an output sheet that has been embossed. Here, the lower right corner of the output paper is embossed. In addition, as shown in FIG. 11, this embossing is performed so that the front surface of the output sheet is raised (becomes a convex shape). By embossing in this way, it is possible to determine the front and back direction of the output paper by touch. Further, when aligning the top and bottom directions, the orientation of the output paper may be changed so that the embossed portion is at the lower right.

  When double-sided printing is performed, the output paper is turned over and guided to the embossing processing apparatus. At this time, if the convex embossing is performed on the lower right side of the output paper as it is, the front / back / top / bottom direction of the output paper is reversed. Therefore, at the time of double-sided printing, taking this point into account, embossing is performed so that a convex embossing part is provided at the lower right of the front surface of the output paper. In the image forming apparatus 10 of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 12, embossing (concave embossing) is performed from the opposite side at opposite corners in the direction in which the output paper advances (sub-scanning direction).

  In the above description, embossing is performed on the lower right side of the front surface of the output paper, but the embossing position is not limited to the lower right, and any of the upper right, lower left, and upper left positions It may be. Further, the embossing is performed so that the front surface is convex, but the embossing may be performed so that the front surface is concave.

  FIG. 13 shows a processing flow during the embossing process. First, it is determined whether double-sided printing is being performed (S131). If duplex printing is not in progress (S131 / No), an embossing process is performed on a predetermined corner of the output paper, and the paper is discharged (S132, S134). On the other hand, when double-sided printing is in progress (S131 / Yes), an embossing process is performed so that an embossed part having a predetermined shape (convex / concave) is provided at a predetermined corner on the front surface of the output paper, The paper is discharged (S133, S134).

  In addition, you may make it change the shape of an embossing part at the time of single-sided printing and the time of double-sided printing. Further, one corner may be embossed during single-sided printing, and a plurality of corners may be embossed during double-sided printing. An example is shown in FIG. By controlling in this way, it is possible to determine by hand whether the output paper is single-sided printing or double-sided printing, which can contribute to the user. It becomes.

  In addition, since the existing embossing processing apparatus can be diverted to the embossing processing apparatus of this embodiment, it becomes possible to develop the image forming apparatus 10 of this embodiment at a low development cost.

<Staple processing equipment>
The stapling processing apparatus has stapling means for hitting staples, and at the time of processing processing, the stapling means hits staples at any corner of the output paper. The staple driving process may be performed for each sheet to be output or for each fixed number of sheets.

  FIG. 15 shows an output sheet on which staples are applied. Here, the staple is applied to the upper left corner of the output paper. As shown in FIG. 15, this staple driving is performed so that the upper side of the staple is on the front side of the output paper and the staple needle is bent on the back side of the output paper. By stapling in this way, it is possible to determine the front and back direction of the output paper by touch. When aligning the top and bottom directions, the orientation of the output paper may be changed so that the place where the staple is applied is at the upper left.

  At the time of executing double-sided printing, the output sheet is guided to the stapling processing apparatus in an overturned state. At this time, if the above-described stapling process is performed on the upper left of the output paper, the front / back / top / bottom direction of the output paper is reversed. Therefore, at the time of double-sided printing, taking this point into account, the staple is applied so that the staple processing unit is provided at the upper left of the front surface of the output paper. In the image forming apparatus 10 of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 16, the staple is applied from the opposite side to the corner facing the direction in which the output paper advances (sub-scanning direction).

  In the above description, the staple is applied to the upper left of the front side of the output sheet. However, the position where the staple is applied is not limited to the upper left, and any of the lower left, upper right, and lower right It may be a place. Further, although the staple is struck so that the upper side of the staple comes to the front side, the staple may be struck so that the needle is bent to the front side.

  FIG. 17 shows a processing flow during the staple processing. First, it is determined whether double-sided printing is being performed (S141). If duplex printing is not in progress (S141 / No), staples are applied to predetermined corners of the output paper and discharged (S142, S144). On the other hand, when duplex printing is in progress (S141 / Yes), staples are struck at a predetermined corner on the front surface of the output paper so that staples in a predetermined direction are struck and discharged (S143, S144). .

  The staple size may be changed between single-sided printing and double-sided printing. In addition, the direction in which staples are applied may be changed between single-sided printing and double-sided printing. Further, staples may be applied to one corner during single-sided printing, and staples may be applied to a plurality of corners during double-sided printing. An example is shown in FIG. By controlling in this way, it is possible to determine by hand whether the output paper is single-sided printing or double-sided printing, which can contribute to the user. It becomes.

  Since the existing staple processing apparatus can be used for the staple processing apparatus according to the present embodiment, the image forming apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment can be developed at a low development cost.

1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus. It is a figure which shows the output paper cut | disconnected. It is a figure for demonstrating the cutting process position at the time of double-sided printing. It is a figure which shows the processing flow at the time of a cutting process. It is a figure which shows the cutting process process at the time of double-sided printing. It is a figure which shows the output paper punched. It is a figure for demonstrating the punching position at the time of double-sided printing. It is a figure which shows the output paper punched. It is a figure which shows the processing flow at the time of a punch process. It is a figure which shows the punching process at the time of double-sided printing. It is a figure which shows the output paper made | formed by embossing. It is a figure which shows the embossing position at the time of double-sided printing, and an embossing direction. It is a figure which shows the processing flow at the time of an embossing process. It is a figure which shows the embossing process at the time of double-sided printing. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an output sheet that has been stapled. It is a figure which shows the staple processing position at the time of double-sided printing, and a staple processing direction. It is a figure which shows the processing flow at the time of a staple processing. It is a figure which shows the staple processing at the time of duplex printing.

Explanation of symbols

10 Image forming apparatus 30 Post-processing apparatus

Claims (14)

  An image forming apparatus comprising post-processing means for performing post-processing for discriminating the front and back sides of the output paper and the vertical direction with respect to a predetermined corner of the output paper to be output.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the post-processing unit cuts the predetermined corner of the output sheet.   The post-processing means is characterized in that the cut shape of the predetermined corner of the output paper is different between when the output paper is printed on one side and when the output paper is printed on both sides. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2. The post-processing means is
If the output paper is printed on one side, cut one corner of the output paper,
3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein when the output paper is printed on both sides, a plurality of corners of the output paper are cut.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the post-processing unit makes a hole in the predetermined corner of the output sheet.   The post-processing means makes the shape of the hole at the predetermined corner of the output paper different between when the output paper is printed on one side and when the output paper is printed on both sides. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5. The post-processing means is
If the output paper is printed on one side, the hole is made in one corner of the output paper,
6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein when the output paper is printed on both sides, the holes are formed at a plurality of corners of the output paper.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the post-processing unit forms a raised pattern at the predetermined corner of the output sheet.   The image according to claim 8, wherein the post-processing unit changes the shape of the raised pattern between when the output sheet is printed on one side and when the output sheet is printed on both sides. Forming equipment. The post-processing means is
When the output paper is printed on one side, the raised pattern is formed at one corner of the output paper,
9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein when the output paper is printed on both sides, the raised patterns are formed at a plurality of corners of the output paper.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the post-processing unit strikes staples at the predetermined corner of the output sheet.   The post-processing unit is characterized in that the size of staples to be applied to the predetermined corner is different between when the output paper is printed on one side and when the output paper is printed on both sides. Item 12. The image forming apparatus according to Item 11.   The post-processing unit is characterized in that the direction of the staple applied to the predetermined corner differs between when the output sheet is printed on one side and when the output sheet is printed on both sides. 11. The image forming apparatus according to 11. The post-processing means is
When the output paper is printed on one side, the staple is applied to one corner of the output paper,
12. The image forming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein when the output paper is printed on both sides, the staple is applied to a plurality of corners of the output paper.

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