JP2010013251A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a composite machine for displaying a screen for prompting a user to reload a document in the sideways direction if the document is loaded in the lengthwise direction. <P>SOLUTION: The composite machine 100 includes an automatic document feeder 104 which conveys documents loaded on a placing stand 105 one by one and reads images of the documents. The composite machine 100 includes a document direction detecting means 601 for detecting whether the direction of a loaded document is the lengthwise direction which means that short sides of the document are in parallel with a main scanning direction of a reading part 110 or the sideways direction which means that long sides of the document are in parallel with the main scanning direction before conveying the document, and a document direction display means 603 for displaying a reloading prompt screen which is the screen for prompting the user to reload the document in the sideways direction, when the document is loaded in the lengthwise direction. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more specifically, an image forming apparatus capable of displaying a screen that prompts the user to re-mount the original in a horizontal direction when the direction of the placed original is vertical. About.

  In recent years, image forming apparatuses are provided with a plurality of functions that can be provided, and are becoming multifunctional. The functions include a facsimile transmission / reception function, a scan function, a print function, a post-processing function represented by a staple function and a punch function, a power saving function, and the like in addition to a copy function, and various types. Further, along with the diversification of the above functions, an automatic document feeder (ADF) capable of automatically and sequentially feeding documents to be provided with functions has been installed.

  When a user causes the image forming apparatus to read an image of a document using the automatic document feeder, the user places a document on a mounting table (also referred to as a document tray or a document tray) provided in the automatic document feeder. When the start button is pressed, a pick-up roller or the like provided in the automatic document feeder rotates, and the loaded document is conveyed one by one, and the reading unit that reads the image captures the image of the document. read. The document whose image has been read is discharged onto a paper discharge tray.

  By the way, when the orientation of the original to be placed is vertical (the direction in which the short side of the original is parallel to the main scanning direction of the reading unit), the horizontal direction (the length of the original with respect to the main scanning direction of the reading unit). Compared with the case where the side is parallel), a series of processing time from the start of image reading of the document to the end of image output (image formation) becomes longer. This is because, when reading an image of a document placed vertically, the reading length of the reading unit in the sub-scanning direction (direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction, direction parallel to the document conveying direction) is increased. When a latent image (electrostatic latent image) corresponding to the image data is formed on the photosensitive drum, the length of the side of the latent image in the rotation direction of the photosensitive drum is increased.

  When the number of originals is small, the processing time is not significantly affected by the difference in the orientation of the originals, but when the number of originals increases, there is a problem that the difference in processing time increases according to the difference in the orientation of the originals. However, even when the number of originals reaches several tens (e.g., 10 or more), the user actually starts the copying operation without being aware of the direction of the originals. In this case, there is a problem in that daily operations are hindered, such as a long waiting time for the user who wishes to perform the copying operation, which is followed up.

  In order to solve the above problem, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-31735 (Patent Document 1) discloses a number recognition unit for recognizing the number of processed images to be formed and a document image read by the image reading unit by 90 degrees. When the short side of the original is set parallel to the main scanning direction of the image rotation means and the image reading means, the processing recognized by the number recognition means prior to image formation by the image forming means And image rotation control means for comparing the number of sheets with a predetermined reference number of sheets and rotating the original image by 90 degrees with the image rotation means when the number of processed sheets is greater than the reference number of sheets. An image forming apparatus is disclosed.

  With the above configuration, even when a document is set in a portrait orientation, which requires a long processing time, image formation is automatically performed using landscape-oriented paper whose short side is parallel to the paper transport direction. Even if the document is processed and the document is set in either portrait or landscape orientation, image forming conditions with a short processing time are automatically selected, so the user must be aware of the orientation of the document. Even if it is not set, it is possible to perform copying work quickly and efficiently.

  Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-177292 (Patent Document 2) includes a path storage unit, a document size detection unit, a paper size detection unit, a paper feed detection unit, and a paper feed selection unit. When the automatic paper selection mode is selected, which stores the distance from the paper feed unit to the paper discharge position and selects the paper feed unit according to the original size, the original size detection means detects the original size and detects the paper size. The size detection means detects a paper size suitable for copying the original from the detected original size and the copy magnification specified by the user, and the paper feed detection means detects the paper feed containing the detected size paper. All paper sections are detected, and the paper feed selection means selects the paper feed section with the shortest paper feed time from the paper feed sections detected based on the distance stored in the path storage section and the number of copies. A digital copying machine is disclosed.

  With the above configuration, when the automatic paper selection mode for selecting the paper feeding unit according to the document size is specified, the document size, the copy magnification, the paper feeding unit, and the paper feeding unit are discharged. Select the paper feeding unit with the shortest paper feeding time from the paper feeding units detected based on the distance to the position and the number of copies, and send the recording paper from that paper feeding unit. It can be shortened.

  Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-65443 (Patent Document 3) discloses an image memory capable of storing image information for one page or more of recording paper of the maximum copy size, and image information using the image memory. Image information rotating means for rotating the recording paper, and the automatic paper selecting means includes a recording paper having a size determined by a document size and a scaling ratio in different stages of the plurality of paper feeding stages, and the recording paper The image information is rotated 90 degrees to be different from the document placement direction based on a comparison between the number of copy repeats and a predetermined reference value. It is determined whether to select a recording paper in the mounting direction or a recording paper in a mounting direction that matches the mounting direction of the original, and controls the image information rotating means, and the predetermined reference value is Different from the original placement direction Regardless of the number of paper feed stages of the paper feeding means, the recording paper in the placement direction and the recording paper in the placement direction that coincides with the placement direction of the original are always constant values. There is disclosed a digital copier characterized in that.

According to the above configuration, even if image rotation is performed at least, recording paper that shortens the time required to complete the job when copying is performed without performing image rotation is selected, and productivity is improved.
JP 9-31735 A Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 7-177292 JP-A-8-65443

  However, in the technique described in Patent Document 1, image rotation means is disclosed. However, the rotation processing for rotating the read image data includes the resolution of the read image data, the performance of the CPU provided in the image forming apparatus, and the like. Depending on the case, the rotation processing time may become longer. In that case, there is a problem that the above technique does not provide an effect.

  Further, the technique disclosed in Patent Document 2 requires a copying machine to perform processing based on a plurality of parameters, and thus has a problem that it takes time to develop software that operates properly.

  The technique described in Patent Document 3 also has the same problem as the technique described in Patent Document 1 because the image information rotating means involves a rotation process for rotating image data.

  Further, any of the techniques in Patent Documents 1 to 3 focuses on the recording paper (sheet) to be output, and does not prompt the user to take any approach to the placed document. . If the user changes the orientation of the document, the processing time can be shortened, but the user does not actively change the orientation of the document. There is a problem that the long problem cannot be fundamentally solved.

  In addition, when a user uses an automatic document feeder, there are many users who do not know the relationship between the orientation of the document and the processing time, and the document is usually placed on the mounting table casually. Therefore, for example, once the restriction plate for restricting the end portion of the document provided on the mounting table is set once so that the orientation of the document corresponds to the portrait orientation, the subsequent user is directed to the portrait orientation that is the orientation of the previous document. The reality is that the orientation of their manuscripts is aligned. Once that state occurs, unless the position of the restriction plate is changed, subsequent users tend to continue the work with the original in portrait orientation. There is a problem of progress.

  Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above-described problem, and displays a screen that prompts the user to re-mount the original in the landscape orientation when the orientation of the placed document is in the portrait orientation. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that can perform the above-described process.

  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes an automatic document feeder that conveys documents placed on a placement table one by one and reads an image of the document. In the image forming apparatus, before the document is conveyed, the orientation of the placed document is a portrait orientation in which the short side of the document is parallel to the main scanning direction of the reading unit, or the orientation of the document Document orientation detection means for detecting whether the long side is parallel or landscape orientation, and a screen that prompts the user to reposition the document in landscape orientation when the orientation of the document is portrait orientation Document orientation display means for displaying a certain repositioning prompt screen.

  The image reading method by the reading unit is slightly different depending on the image sensor and the image sensor provided in the reading unit, but any image reading method may be adopted. For example, the image sensor can be a charge coupled device (CCD), a CMOS sensor (CMOS sensor), a contact image sensor (CIS), or the like, but any image sensor may be employed.

  As a method for detecting the orientation of a document, for example, a document presence detection sensor (contact sensor, optical sensor) that detects the presence of a document corresponding to the orientation of the document is used, and an ON signal / OFF signal of the document presence detection sensor is used. There is a method for detecting the orientation of the original from the combination.

  For example, a touch panel provided in the operation unit of the image forming apparatus may be used as the place for displaying the re-placement prompting screen. However, as another method, the display screen may be displayed on a liquid crystal display of a personal computer connected to the image forming apparatus. It doesn't matter.

  In addition, before transporting the document, document orientation detection means for detecting whether the orientation of the placed document is portrait or landscape, and the number of documents for detecting the number of documents placed above It can be configured to include detection means and document orientation display means for displaying a repositioning prompt screen to the user when the orientation of the document is portrait and the number of documents is greater than a predetermined number.

  Methods for detecting the number of documents include, for example, the lift width of the lift plate provided on the mounting table, the amount of rotation of the motor required to lift the lift plate, and the light on the document on the mounting table. There is a method of detecting the number of documents based on the intensity of light, the intensity of transmitted light, and the like.

  The predetermined number of sheets is a value determined on the basis of the processing time required from image reading of the document to image output and the number of documents to be read. The determination method is, for example, the number of sheets exceeding the predetermined number of sheets. When a document is read, it is determined by whether or not the user (manufacturer) feels that the processing time is long, whether or not the processing time is hindered.

  Further, the document size detection means for detecting the size of the document placed on the placing table is provided before the document is conveyed, and the document orientation display means is configured such that the orientation of the document is portrait and the number of documents is equal to that of the document. When the number is larger than a predetermined number corresponding to the size, the repositioning prompt screen can be displayed.

  The method for detecting the size of the document is the same as the method for detecting the orientation of the document. For example, a document presence detection sensor that detects the presence of the document corresponding to the size of the document is used. A method of detecting the size of the document from the combination of the / OFF signal can be mentioned. The size of the manuscript may be a prescribed size (domestic size) or an overseas size.

  The predetermined number according to the size of the document is a value determined based on the processing time, the size of the document to be read, and the number of documents, and the determination method is, for example, as described above. However, the length of the long side and the short side of the paper corresponding to the size of the document are determined according to the size of the document. In some cases, it is determined by comparison.

  Further, instead of displaying the repositioning reminder screen by the document orientation display means, or together with the display of the repositioning reminder screen, a document that generates a sound prompting the user to reposition the document in the landscape orientation It can comprise so that direction sound generation means may be provided.

  Examples of the sound that prompts the user to re-place the document in landscape orientation include a voice message recorded in advance by the user, a warning sound indicating a predetermined warning, a melody, music, and the like. As a means for generating sound, for example, a speaker for generating sound is employed.

  According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the document orientation detecting means for detecting whether the orientation of the placed document is portrait orientation or landscape orientation before conveying the document, and the orientation of the document is portrait orientation. In the case of the orientation, it is configured to include a document orientation display means for displaying a re-placement prompting screen.

  This allows a user who does not know that the orientation of the document affects the processing time required from image reading to image output to allow the orientation of the placed document to be taken into account and to re-place the document in a landscape orientation. It is possible to prompt. Therefore, it is possible to let the user be aware of the orientation of the document that is usually placed casually, and to place the document in a landscape orientation that reduces the processing time without being affected by the regulation plate once set. Become. As a result, it becomes possible for the image forming apparatus to provide functions promptly, and while compelling the user to change the orientation of the document, it is possible to solve the fundamental problem of prolonging the processing time. Since it is not necessary to perform a rotation process for rotating the read image data or a search process for searching for a cassette of sheets to be output, it is possible to eliminate the trouble of creating predetermined software.

  In addition, before transporting the document, document orientation detection means for detecting whether the orientation of the placed document is portrait or landscape, and the number of documents for detecting the number of documents placed above It can be configured to include detection means and document orientation display means for displaying a repositioning prompt screen to the user when the orientation of the document is portrait and the number of documents is greater than a predetermined number.

  As a result, when the orientation of the document is vertical, the repositioning prompt screen is displayed when the number of placed documents exceeds the predetermined number that most affects the document. For this reason, it is possible to effectively display the repositioning prompt screen, shorten the processing time required from image reading to image output, and when the number of originals is small, Since the display is omitted, the user can smoothly input conditions without forcing the user to change the orientation of the document. As a result, it is possible to appropriately display the repositioning reminder screen.

  Further, the document size detection means for detecting the size of the document placed on the placing table is provided before the document is conveyed, and the document orientation display means is configured such that the orientation of the document is portrait and the number of documents is equal to that of the document. When the number is larger than a predetermined number corresponding to the size, a re-placement prompting screen is displayed.

  As a result, the image forming apparatus can be flexibly adapted to the actual situation in which the length of the processing time varies depending on the size of the original and the number of originals, and the repositioning prompt screen can be displayed in an appropriate scene. Therefore, even if the size of the document to be placed is different, it is possible to effectively display the repositioning reminder screen, and when the number of documents is small, the display of the repositioning reminder screen is omitted. This makes it possible for the user to smoothly execute the business.

  Further, instead of displaying the repositioning reminder screen by the document orientation display means, or together with the display of the repositioning reminder screen, a document that generates a sound prompting the user to reposition the document in the landscape orientation It can comprise so that direction sound generation means may be provided.

  This makes it possible to audibly inform the user of the necessity for re-mounting. Therefore, even a user who is unaware of the displayed repositioning prompt screen can recognize the necessity of remounting reliably by sound, and prompts the user to reposition properly. Become. As a result, it becomes possible for the image forming apparatus to quickly provide functions by re-mounting.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings illustrating embodiments thereof.

<Image forming apparatus>
In the following, the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a multi-function machine, a digital copying machine, a printer, and the like provided with a printer, a copy, a scanner, a fax, etc., and a copy service, a scanner service, a facsimile service, and a printer service. And the like function as an image forming apparatus including the above.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a multifunction machine. However, details of each part not directly related to the present invention are omitted. As an example, the operation of the image forming apparatus when copying a document using a multifunction machine will be briefly described.

  For example, when a user prints a document using the multifunction peripheral 100, the document is placed on the document table 103 or the mounting table 105 shown in FIG. 1 and printed on the operation unit 200 provided near the document table 103. The instructions are given. When the instruction is given, printing is performed by operating the following units (drive units).

  That is, as shown in FIG. 1, the multifunction peripheral 100 according to the present embodiment includes a main body 101 and a platen cover 102 attached above the main body 101. A document table 103 is provided on the upper surface of the main body 101, and the document table 103 is opened and closed by a platen cover 102. The platen cover 102 is provided with an automatic document feeder 104, a placing table 105, and a sheet discharging table 109.

  As shown in FIG. 2A, the placing table 105 of the automatic document feeder 104 includes a first regulating plate 210 that is fixed in the vicinity of the upper end of the placing table in a plan view and that regulates the end portion of the document. A second restricting plate 211 is provided in the vicinity of the lower end of the mounting table 105, which is a position facing the restricting plate 210. The second restricting plate 211 is movable in a direction orthogonal to a conveyance direction (hereinafter referred to as F direction) that is a direction in which the document is conveyed. It can be adjusted by the regulation plates 210 and 211.

  The mounting table 105 further includes a predetermined number of document presence detection sensors 212a to 212g that detect the presence or absence of a document (contact of a document). The predetermined number of document presence detection sensors 212a to 212g are arranged so that the corners of the document can be detected according to the size and orientation of the placed document. For example, the arrangement method is as follows.

  As shown in FIG. 2A, a first document presence detection sensor 212a is provided in the vicinity of the lower left side of the first regulating plate 210, and a document whose end is regulated by the first regulating plate 210 is placed on the placing table 105. When the document is placed, the corners of the document are reliably detected. When the first document presence detection sensor 212a transmits a signal (ON signal) corresponding to the presence of the document, it is considered that the document is placed on the placement table 212a.

  The other document presence detection sensors 212b to 212g are arranged according to various document sizes and orientations. For example, when a document of a predetermined standard size (also referred to as a prescribed size) is placed on the placement table 105, one corner of the document is detected by the first document presence detection sensor 212a. The other document presence detection sensors 212b to 212g are arranged so as to detect the other corner that faces one corner of the document and is located on the diagonal line of the document.

  For example, a standard-size A5 size document is placed in a portrait orientation in which the short side of the document is parallel to the main scanning direction of a reading unit 110 (described later) provided in the multifunction peripheral 100. In this case, the first document presence detection sensor 212a and the A5 vertical document presence detection sensor 212c contacting one corner of the document placed in the A5 vertical direction transmit an ON signal, and the other document presence detection sensors 212b, 212d-g does not transmit an ON signal. Based on the combination of ON signals of the document presence detection sensors 212a to 212g, it is possible to detect the orientation of the document, and it is also possible to detect the size of the document (described later).

  Further, for example, when an A4 size document that is a standard size is placed in a landscape orientation in which the long side of the document is parallel to the main scanning direction of the reading unit 110, the first document presence detection sensor In addition to 212a and A4 horizontal document presence detection sensor 212d, A5 horizontal document presence detection sensor 212b and A5 vertical document presence detection sensor 212c, which are smaller than A4 size, inevitably come into contact, but in this case, Based on the ON signals of the first document presence detection sensor 212a, the A4 horizontal document presence detection sensor 212d, the A5 horizontal document presence detection sensor 212b, and the A5 vertical document presence detection sensor 212c, the orientation and size of the document are detected. Is done.

  Next, the automatic document feeder 104 includes a document conveyance path 108 formed inside the platen cover 102, a pickup roller 106 and conveyance rollers 107A and 107B provided inside the platen cover 102, and the like. The document conveyance path 108 is a document conveyance path that leads from the placement table 105 to the sheet discharge table 109 via a reading position P where reading is performed by the reading unit 110 provided in the main body 101.

  The automatic document feeder 104 pulls out each document placed on the placement table 105 to the document conveyance path 108 by the pickup roller 106 and passes the document drawn by the conveyance rollers 107A and 107B through the reading position P. Then, the paper is discharged onto the paper discharge tray 109. When the document passes the reading position P, the document is read by the reading unit 110.

  As shown in FIG. B1, a lift plate 214, an upper limit sensor 215, and a lower limit sensor 216 are located in the vicinity of the drawing port 213 through which the document is drawn into the document transport path 108, in the transport direction (F direction) of the mounting table 105. A roller 217 and a pickup roller 106.

  The lift plate 214 is a plate-like member on which a document can be placed, and can be moved up and down in the document stacking direction by a lift plate driving unit 218 provided on a side surface of the lift plate 214. The upper limit sensor 215 is a sensor for stopping the lift plate 214 from rising at a predetermined position, and is constituted by an optical sensor. The upper limit sensor 215 is optically detected and stopped when the lift plate 214 rises and the leading edge of the document on the lift plate 214 pushes up the roller 217 (FIG. B2). The lower limit sensor 216 is a sensor for detecting that the lift plate 214 has been lowered to the lowest position (home position).

  The roller 217 is disposed at a distance above the lift plate 214 disposed at the home position, and is positioned at a lower position by its own weight in a free state, but follows the force received from below by the lift plate 214. Thus, it is configured to be movable upward.

  The lift plate driving unit 218 is for moving the lift plate 214 up and down, and includes a stepping motor 219, a rack and pinion mechanism (hereinafter referred to as a rod 220, a tooth material, a gear material 221 and the like) and the like. A bar body 220 is connected to one side surface of the lift plate 214 along the document stacking direction. A gear tooth material (not shown) is provided on the side surface of the bar body 220 and can be engaged with the tooth material. In addition, a stepping motor 219 including a gear member 221 that can freely rotate forward and reverse is provided.

  When the document is placed on the lift plate 214, the stepping motor 219 rotates the gear member 221 in the forward direction, and the rod member 220 having the tooth material engaged with the gear member 221 is raised in the stacking direction. The lift material 214 connected to is raised. For example, when the document is removed from the lift plate 214, if the stepping motor 219 moves the lift material 214 downward in the stacking direction and moves it to the home position, the stepping motor 219 causes the gear material 221 to move. It will be rotated in reverse.

  Next, the reading unit 110 is provided below the document table 103 and the automatic document feeder 104, and details thereof are shown in FIG. The reading unit 110 includes a first light source 111 that illuminates the document table 103 in the main scanning direction, a slit 116 that selectively passes light from the document table, and a mirror 112 that guides light from the document table. The moving carriage 117, the second moving carriage 118 including mirrors 113A and 113B that reflect the reflected light from the first moving carriage 117 again, and the lens group 119 that optically corrects the light guided by the mirror, An image sensor 115 that receives the light corrected by the lens group 119, and an image data generation unit 114 that converts the light received by the image sensor into an electrical signal and performs correction / correction as necessary. .

  When reading a document on the automatic document feeder 104, the light source 111 moves to a position where the reading position P can be irradiated and emits light. Light from the light source 111 is reflected by a document that passes through the document table 103 and passes the reading position P, and is guided to the image sensor 115 by the slit 116, mirrors 112, 113 A, and 113 B, and the lens group 119. The image sensor 115 converts the received light into an electrical signal and transmits it to the image data generation unit 114. The light received by the image sensor 115 is input to the image data generator 114 as analog electrical signals of R (red), G (green), and B (blue), where analog-to-digital conversion is performed. Digitized. Further, the image data generation unit 114 uses the sequentially converted digital signal as unit data, and corrects and corrects the unit data to generate image data including a plurality of unit data.

  The reading unit 110 can read not only the document conveyed by the automatic document feeder 104 but also the document placed on the document table 103. When reading a document placed on the document table 103, the first carriage 112 moves in the sub-scanning direction while emitting light from the light source 111, so that the optical path length from the light source 111 to the image sensor 115 is constant. The second moving carriage 118 moves in the direction of the image sensor 115 at a half speed of the first moving carriage 117.

  The image sensor 115 electrically outputs light from the document placed on the document table 103 based on the light guided to the mirrors 112, 113 </ b> A, 113 </ b> B, as in the case of the document conveyed to the automatic document feeder 104. The signal is converted into a signal, and based on this, the image data generation unit 114 generates image data.

  A printing unit 120 that prints image data is provided below the reading unit 110 of the main body 101. The image data that can be printed by the printing unit 120 is transmitted together with an image formation instruction from the network 202 via the data generated by the image data generation unit 114 as described above or the communication cable 201 connected to the multifunction peripheral 100. Sometimes it is done.

  As a printing method performed by the printing unit 120, an electrophotographic method is used. That is, the photosensitive drum 121 is uniformly charged by the charger 122, and then the photosensitive drum 121 is irradiated by the laser 123 to form a latent image on the photosensitive drum 121, and toner is attached to the latent image by the developing device 124. In this method, a visual image is formed and the visible image is transferred onto a sheet by a transfer roller.

  Note that in the image forming apparatus corresponding to the full-color image, the developing device (rotary developing device) 124 is rotated in the circumferential direction around a rotation axis configured in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. A developing unit in which color toner is stored is disposed at a position facing the photosensitive drum 121. In this state, the latent image on the photosensitive drum 121 is developed with toner stored in the developing device 124 and transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 125A. The developing device 124 includes four developing units 124 (Y), (C), (M), and yellow (Y), cyan (C), magenta (M), and black (K). (K). By repeating the transfer to the intermediate transfer belt 125A for each color, a full color image is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 125A.

  The paper on which the visible image is printed is placed on a paper feed tray such as the manual feed tray 131 and the paper feed cassettes 132, 133, and 134.

  When the printing unit 120 performs printing, one sheet of paper is pulled out from any one of the paper feed trays using the pickup roller 135, and the pulled-out paper is transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 125 </ b> A by the transport roller 137 or the registration roller 138. Feed between rollers 125B. When pulling out the paper, the paper placed on the manual feed tray 131 may be pulled out by using the manual feed tray pickup roller 136.

  When the visible image on the intermediate transfer belt 125A is transferred onto the sheet fed between the intermediate transfer belt 125A and the transfer roller 125B, the printing unit 120 fixes the visible image on the conveyance belt 126 with a fixing device. Send paper to 127. The fixing device 127 includes a heating roller 128 with a built-in heater and a pressure roller 129 pressed against the heating roller 128 with a predetermined pressure. When the sheet passes between the heating roller 128 and the pressure roller 129, the visible image is fixed to the sheet by heat and the pressing force to the sheet. The printing unit 120 discharges the sheet that has passed through the fixing device 127 to the discharge tray 130.

  The basic copy service processing in the multifunction peripheral 100 has been described above. Note that the multifunction peripheral 100 operates other units such as a facsimile transmission / reception function, a printing function, and the like by appropriately operating the above-described units (the automatic document feeder 104, the reading unit 110, and the printing unit 120) as appropriate. Provides the user with scan functions, post-processing functions, memory functions, etc.

  The means for detecting the orientation of the document (document size) based on the ON signals of the plurality of document presence detection sensors is the document orientation detection means (document size detection means), and means for controlling the lift plate driving unit. The lift moving means, the means for receiving an instruction (command, request) such as printing performed by the user to the operation unit 200 as the condition receiving means, and the means for reading the image of the document by the reading unit 100 as the image reading means, Based on the received instruction and the read image data, the means for providing the function is generally referred to as function providing means (described later).

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of an appearance of the operation unit 200 provided in the multifunction peripheral 100. Using the operation unit 200, the user inputs the setting conditions for providing the function as described above, writes write information, or transmits the write information to a predetermined transmission destination. The touch panel 401, the touch pen 402, and the operation keys 403 provided in the operation unit 200 are used when setting conditions are input and execution of each service is started.

  The touch panel 401 has both a function for inputting the above-described conditions and a function for displaying the input setting conditions. That is, by pressing a selection item or the like in the screen displayed on the touch panel 401, a setting condition associated with the selection item or the like is input, and by pressing a key or a transmission destination on a predetermined keyboard screen An instruction related to the function is input. In addition, the pressed selection item, the input instruction, and the like can be visually recognized at any time by displaying on the touch panel 401, for example, by changing the background color from white to gray.

  A touch pen 402 is provided in the vicinity of the touch panel 401. When the user touches the tip of the touch pen 402 to the touch panel 401, a sensor provided below the touch panel 401 detects the touch destination. Therefore, by touching the touch pen 402, it is possible to press a key on the keyboard screen or input predetermined handwritten information. The touch pen 402 may not be provided.

  Further, a predetermined number of operation keys 403 are provided in the vicinity of the touch panel 401. For example, a ten key 404, a start key 405, a clear key 406, a stop key 407, a reset key 408, and a power key 409 are provided. The numeric keypad 404 is used to input specific numbers when setting the number of copies and the magnification.

  Next, the configuration of the control system hardware of the multifunction peripheral 100 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram of control system hardware in the multifunction peripheral 100. However, details of each part not directly related to the present invention are omitted.

  The control circuit of the MFP 100 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 501, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 502, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 503, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 504, and a driver 505 corresponding to each drive unit. They are connected by a bus 506. The CPU 501 uses, for example, the RAM 503 as a work area, executes a program stored in the ROM 502, the HDD 504, and the like, and sends data and instructions from the driver 505 and the operation unit 200 (not shown) based on the execution result. Further, signals transmitted from the document orientation detection sensor, the upper limit sensor, the lower limit sensor, and the like are transmitted and received, and the operation of each drive unit shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 is controlled. In addition to the driving unit, the CPU 501 executes the program to implement each unit. The ROM 502, the HDD 504, and the like store programs and data for realizing each means described below.

<First embodiment>
Next, with reference to FIGS. 6 to 7, the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment prompts the document to be repositioned horizontally when the orientation of the placed document is portrait. The procedure for displaying the screen will be described. FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram of the multifunction peripheral according to the first embodiment. FIG. 7 is a flowchart for illustrating the execution procedure of the first embodiment. In addition, the detail of each part which is not directly related to 1st embodiment is abbreviate | omitted.

  First, when the user places an A4 size document on the mounting table 105 in a portrait orientation and both ends of the document are regulated by the first regulating plate 210 and the second regulating plate 211, a predetermined document presence detection sensor (first A document presence detection sensor 212a, an A4 vertical document presence detection sensor 212e, an A5 vertical document presence detection sensor 212c, and an A5 horizontal document presence detection sensor 212b) detect a placed document, and turn on an ON signal. A call is sent to the direction detection means 601 (FIG. 7: S101). At this point, the user has not yet started condition input or the like.

  Upon receiving the ON signal, the document orientation detection unit 601 detects the document orientation with reference to the document orientation table stored in the document orientation storage unit 602 (FIG. 7: S102).

  In the document orientation table 800, as shown in FIG. 8C, information 801 indicating whether or not each document presence detection sensor 212a-g is transmitting an ON signal (for example, the document presence detection sensor transmitting the ON signal). “◯” 802, “×” 803 or the like for a document presence detection sensor that does not transmit an ON signal), and a document size 804 determined based on the information (for example, “A3”, “A4”, document Is stored in association with the document orientation 805 (“vertical”, “horizontal”, “−”). The document orientation detection unit 601 can detect the orientation of the placed document by acquiring the document orientation 805 corresponding to the combination of the received ON signals. In the first embodiment, since attention is paid to the orientation of the document, the document size 804 may be detected or the document size 804 may be omitted.

  The document orientation detection means corresponds to the ON signals of the first document presence detection sensor 212a, the A4 vertical document presence detection sensor 212e, the A5 vertical document presence detection sensor 212c, and the A5 horizontal document presence detection sensor 212b. Based on 806, when the document orientation “vertical” 807 is detected from the document orientation table 800, the “vertical” 807 is transmitted to the document orientation display means 603. When the document orientation display means 603 receives the document orientation “vertical orientation” 807, the document orientation display means 603 refers to the screen display table stored in the repositioning reminder screen storage means 604 and repositions the document according to the orientation of the document. It is determined whether or not to display a reminder screen (FIG. 7: S103).

  In the screen display table 808, as shown in FIG. 8D, information 810 indicating whether or not to display the original orientation 809 and the repositioning reminder screen (for example, “ Yes ”811, and“ No ”812, etc., are stored in association with each other when the repositioning prompt screen is not displayed. With the above-described configuration, the document orientation display unit 603 can display a repositioning reminder display screen when the orientation of the document is vertical.

  When the document orientation display unit 603 obtains “present” 811 corresponding to the received “vertical orientation” 807 from the screen display table 808, the orientation of the placed document is remounted on the touch panel 401 in the landscape orientation. Is displayed (FIG. 7: S103 YES → S104, FIG. 9E).

  As shown in FIG. 9E, the re-placement prompting screen displays a message 901 “Please change the orientation of the document” prompting the user to change the orientation of the currently placed document. Is an image imitating the state of the document placed on the placement table in “vertical orientation”, which indicates the reason 902 for changing the document “The current document orientation may slow down the processing time.” This is a portrait image image 903, an arrow image image 904 instructing to change “portrait” to “landscape”, and an image imitating the state of the document placed on the table in “landscape”. A landscape document image 905 and an “OK” button 906 that is a confirmation button to be pressed after the user changes the orientation of the document are displayed.

  The user changes the orientation of the document from portrait orientation to landscape orientation while looking at the re-placement prompting screen, and places the document on the placement table again. Further, when the user presses an “OK” button 906 displayed on the re-placement prompting screen, the document orientation display unit 603 deletes the re-placement prompting screen and displays the initial screen (here, the condition acceptance unit 605). , A signal to display the copy setting screen shown in FIG. 9F is transmitted.

  For example, when the user changes the orientation of the document to landscape without pressing the “OK” button 906, the document orientation detection unit 601 redetects the orientation of the document, and the document orientation display unit 603 When it is determined that the orientation of the placed document is landscape, the reposition prompting screen may be automatically deleted, and the signal may be transmitted to the condition accepting unit 605.

  The document orientation display means 603 also serves as a document orientation sound generating means for generating a sound that prompts the user to reposition the document in the landscape orientation. The document orientation display means 603 displays a repositioning prompt screen. Is displayed, and the original sound generating means generates a voice message recorded in advance in a predetermined memory from a small speaker (not shown) attached to the multi-function peripheral.

  The above voice message contains, for example, “The document orientation is portrait, so the processing time may be delayed. Change the document orientation to landscape.” Generated at a volume that can be heard by the user. Depending on the case, you may comprise so that it may generate | occur | produce repeatedly.

  When the voice message is generated, for example, when the user presses an “OK” button 906 displayed on the repositioning prompt screen, or when the user changes the orientation of the document to landscape, the document orientation detection means When the direction of the original is detected again by 601 and the original direction sound generation means (original direction display means 603) determines that the orientation of the placed original is horizontal, the generation of the voice message is stopped. The

  When receiving the signal, the condition receiving unit 605 displays an initial screen on the touch panel 401 and receives an input of a predetermined condition from the user.

  When the user inputs his / her desired conditions while viewing the initial screen and presses the start key, the condition accepting means 605 sends a signal to the image reading means 606 to start reading the document image, and Start image reading. Here, it is assumed that no condition input is performed for the direction of the sheet to be output.

  When the image reading unit 606 reads an image of a document, the image of the document is read with the document facing sideways, that is, with the long side of the document parallel to the main scanning direction of the reading unit 110. become. Therefore, when the light source 111 included in the reading unit 110 emits light, the reading length of the reading unit 110 in the sub-scanning direction is longer in the horizontal direction than in the vertical direction, and as a result, efficient image reading is performed. It becomes possible.

  For example, in the case of the A4 size, since the long side of the document is 297 mm and the short side is 210 mm, the reading length in the horizontal direction is 1.4 times the reading length in the vertical direction.

  The image data read by the image reading unit 606 is transmitted to the function providing unit 607, and the function providing unit 607 provides the function according to the conditions received by the condition receiving unit 605.

  When the orientation of the sheet to be output is not specified by the user, the function providing unit 607 outputs the image data as a printed matter so as to correspond to the size and orientation of the read image data. That is, the function providing unit 607 outputs the image data with the sheet size as A4 and the sheet orientation as landscape.

  When the function providing unit 607 outputs the image data as a printed matter, a latent image corresponding to the image data is formed on the photosensitive drum 121 included in the printing unit 120. However, the latent image is also in a horizontal state, that is, photosensitive. The drum 121 is formed in a state in which the axial width of the drum 121 is parallel to the long side of the latent image. Therefore, as described above, the latent image formation length in the axial direction of the photosensitive drum 121 is longer (1.4 times) in the horizontal direction than in the vertical direction, so that a latent image is efficiently formed. .

Furthermore, when transferring a visible image corresponding to the formed latent image, the photosensitive drum 121 transfers the visible image to a landscape sheet, so that efficient transfer is performed as described above. become. As a result, efficient image output is possible. In this case, since the read image data is not rotated, the image processing does not take time. When the orientation of the placed document is portrait, the orientation of the document is restored to landscape. It is possible to display a screen that prompts the user to place the image, and as a result, it is possible to shorten a series of processing time required from image reading to image output.

  On the other hand, when the document orientation detection unit 601 detects the orientation of the document as landscape, image data is output according to the following procedure.

  When the user places an A4 size document on the placement table 105 in landscape orientation, the document orientation detection means 601 uses predetermined document presence detection sensors (first document presence detection sensor 212a, A4 landscape document presence detection sensor 212d). , The A5 vertical document presence detection sensor 212c and the A5 horizontal document presence detection sensor 212b) are turned on, and the document orientation "landscape" 612 is detected based on the document orientation table 800 (FIG. 7: S101 → S102).

  The document orientation detection unit 601 transmits “landscape” 612 to the document orientation display unit 603, and the document orientation display unit 603 obtains “none” 812 corresponding to “landscape” 612 from the screen display table 808. When the document orientation display unit 603 obtains “None” 812, it is determined that there is no need to display the repositioning prompt screen, and a signal to display the initial screen is transmitted to the condition receiving unit 605 (FIG. 7: S103 NO). ).

  The condition receiving unit 605 displays an initial screen on the touch panel 401 and receives an input of conditions from the user.

  Subsequent operation procedures of the condition receiving unit 605, the image reading unit 606, and the function providing unit 607 are the same as those described above, and are omitted. Since the orientation of the placed document is landscape, image reading and image output are performed efficiently, and as a result, processing time required from image reading to image output is shortened.

  As described above, when the document is placed, the document orientation detection means for detecting whether the orientation of the placed document is portrait orientation or landscape orientation, and the orientation of the document is portrait orientation before the document is conveyed. Document orientation display means for displaying a repositioning prompting screen is provided.

  This allows a user who does not know that the orientation of the document affects the processing time required from image reading to image output to allow the orientation of the placed document to be taken into account and to re-place the document in a landscape orientation. It is possible to prompt. Therefore, it is possible to let the user be aware of the orientation of the document that is usually placed casually, and to place the document in a landscape orientation that reduces the processing time without being affected by the regulation plate once set. Become. As a result, it becomes possible for the image forming apparatus to provide functions promptly, and while compelling the user to change the orientation of the document, it is possible to solve the fundamental problem of prolonging the processing time. Since it is not necessary to perform a rotation process for rotating the read image data or a search process for searching for a cassette of sheets to be output, it is possible to eliminate the trouble of creating predetermined software.

  Further, it can be configured to include document orientation sound generation means for generating a sound for prompting the user to reposition the document in the landscape orientation, in addition to the display of the repositioning prompt screen by the document orientation display means.

  This makes it possible to audibly inform the user of the necessity for re-mounting. Therefore, even a user who is unaware of the displayed repositioning prompt screen can recognize the necessity of remounting reliably by sound, and prompts the user to reposition properly. Become. As a result, it becomes possible for the image forming apparatus to quickly provide functions by re-mounting.

<Second Embodiment>
Next, a procedure in which the image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment informs the user of the orientation of the document that takes the shortest processing time from image reading to image output will be described with reference to FIGS. Compared to the first embodiment, the second embodiment is different from the second embodiment in that the document orientation display means is reactivated when the orientation of the document is vertical and the number of documents is larger than a predetermined number. It is a point which displays a placement prompting screen. Further, the predetermined number is appropriately set according to the size of the document. Since the other points are the same as in the first embodiment, the second embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings (FIGS. 1 to 9) used in the description of the first embodiment as appropriate. To do.

  First, when the user places 12 A4-size originals vertically on the placement table 105, predetermined user presence detection sensors (first original presence detection sensor 212a, A4 vertical original presence detection sensors 212e, A5). The vertical document presence detection sensor 212c and the A5 horizontal document presence detection sensor 212b) detect the presence of the document and send an ON signal to the document orientation detection means 601 (FIG. 11: S201).

  The document orientation detection unit 601 detects the document orientation “vertical orientation” 807 based on the ON signal and the document orientation table 800 stored in the document orientation storage unit 602 (FIG. 8C, FIG. 11: S202). ). The document orientation detection unit 601 also serves as a document size detection unit, and detects the document size “A4” 813 based on the ON signal and the document orientation table 800. Thereafter, the document orientation detection unit 601 transmits “vertical orientation” 807 and “A4” 813 to the document orientation display unit 603.

  Further, the lift moving unit 1001 lifts the lift plate 214 on which the leading end of the document is placed from the home position in the document stacking direction. When the leading edge of the document on the lift plate 214 that has moved up pushes up the roller 217, the upper limit sensor 215 detects this, and the lift moving means 1001 stops the lift plate 214.

  The document number detection means 1002 monitors the lift movement means 1001 and detects the amount of rotation of the motor (for example, “5 rotations”) required to raise the lift material 214 from the home position to the current position of the lift material 214. Then, referring to the document number table stored in the document number storage means 1003, the number of documents is detected (FIG. 11: S203).

  In the document number table 1200, as shown in FIG. 12G, a motor rotation amount 1201 and a document number 1202 corresponding to the motor rotation amount 1201 are stored in association with each other. With the above configuration, the document number detection unit 1002 can detect the number of documents placed on the placement table 105. The relationship between the motor rotation amount 1201 and the number of originals 1202 is as follows: the size of the gear material provided in the motor, the size of the tooth material, the type of original paper (monochrome paper, colored paper, postcard, envelope, business card, etc. ), Paper quality (quality paper, plain paper, recycled paper, etc.), thickness, and the like, the original number table 1200 is appropriately changed in design according to the characteristics. A document number table 1200 is created with reference to plain paper that is in circulation. Also, as shown in FIG. 12G, the document number table 1200 has a document number (for example, one unit) for a predetermined range of the motor rotation amount 1201 (for example, “1.6 to 3.0 rotations”). , A unit of “6 sheets”) is stored in association with each other, and it is not necessary to calculate the exact number of documents according to the amount of rotation of the motor from an experiment or the like. .

  The document number detection means 1002 refers to a predetermined range “4.6 to 6.0 rotations” 1203 to which the motor rotation amount (“5 rotations”) belongs based on the document number table 1100, and When “12 sheets” 1204 corresponding to “4.6 rotations to 6.0 rotations” 1203 is acquired, “12 sheets” 1204 is transmitted to the document orientation display means 603. When the document orientation display means 603 receives the “portrait orientation” 807, “A4” 813, and “12 sheets” 1204, the document orientation display means 603 refers to the number-of-screen display table stored in the repositioning reminder screen storage means 604. Then, it is determined whether or not to display the repositioning prompt screen according to the orientation of the document, the document size, and the number of documents (FIG. 11: S204).

  In the number-of-sheets display table 1205, as shown in FIG. 12H, the document orientation 1206 and the document size 1207 (for example, “A3”, “A4”, “−”) need to display a re-placement prompting screen. Information indicating that it is not necessary to determine the document size or the like.), A predetermined range 1208 of the number of documents, and information indicating whether or not to display a repositioning prompt screen 1209 (for example, “present” 1210 when displaying the re-placement prompt screen, “no” 1211 when not displaying the re-placement prompt screen) is stored in association with each other.

  The “present” 1210 is stored in association with a predetermined range equal to or greater than a predetermined number in the predetermined range 1208 of the number of documents, and the “not present” 1211 is stored in association with a predetermined range less than the predetermined number. Is done. The predetermined number of sheets has a different value depending on the size of the document.

  For example, if the document size is “A4”, the predetermined number is “11”, and if “A3”, the number is “6”. This is because the long side of A4 is 297 mm and the short side is 210 mm, the long side of A3 is 420 mm, and the short side is 297 mm. Therefore, the reading area of the original image of A3 is naturally wider than that of A4. For this reason, the A3 manuscript is configured to display the re-placement prompt display screen even when the number of originals to be read is small compared to the A4 manuscript, thereby shortening the processing time due to the display. This is because the effect of is great. Also, the predetermined number of sheets is set when the repositioning reminder display screen is displayed when the number of documents is small, and the user may not be able to smoothly enter the function provision work because the user's work for inputting the conditions is hindered. Because there is.

  With the configuration described above, the document orientation display unit 603 can display the reposition prompt display screen when the orientation of the document is vertical and the number of documents is larger than a predetermined number corresponding to the size of the document. It becomes.

  When the document orientation display means 603 refers to the number-of-images display table 1205, the “vertical orientation” 807 stores the document size 1207, the predetermined range 1208 of the number of documents, and the like. Is determined to be displayed (FIG. 11: S204 YES).

  Further, the document orientation display means 603 refers to a predetermined range 1208 of the number of documents corresponding to “A4” 813 (“1 to 10 sheets” 1212 and “11 sheets to” 1213), compares the numerical values, It is determined to which range “12 sheets” 1204 belongs (FIG. 11: S205). Since “12 sheets” 1204 belongs to “11 sheets” to “1213”, the document orientation display unit 603 determines that “12 sheets” 1204 is equal to or more than the predetermined number “11 sheets” and is associated with “11 sheets” to “1213”. “Yes” 1214 is acquired from the number-of-sheets display table 1205 (FIG. 11: S205 YES).

  When the document orientation display means 603 acquires “Yes” 1214, it is determined that the repositioning reminder screen needs to be displayed, and the repositioning reminder screen is displayed on the touch panel 401 (FIG. 7: S205 YES → S206, FIG. 9E).

  The user changes the orientation of the document from portrait orientation to landscape orientation while looking at the repositioning prompt screen, places the document again on the placement table 105, and clicks an “OK” button 908 displayed on the repositioning reminder screen. When pressed, the document orientation display means 603 deletes the re-placement prompting screen, and the condition accepting means 605 displays an initial screen on the touch panel 401 and accepts input of conditions from the user.

  As in the first embodiment, the document orientation display unit 603 also serves as a document orientation sound generation unit, and when the document orientation display unit 603 displays the repositioning prompt screen, the document orientation sound is displayed. The generating means generates a voice message recorded in advance in a predetermined memory from a small speaker (not shown) attached to the multifunction device. When the user presses the “OK” button 906 displayed on the re-placement prompting screen while the voice message is being generated, the generation of the voice message is stopped.

  The operating procedures of the condition receiving unit 605, the image reading unit 606, and the function providing unit 607 that follow after the condition receiving unit 605 receives the input of the conditions are the same as those in the first embodiment, and thus will be omitted. When the orientation of the document is “vertical” 807 and the number of documents is larger than the predetermined number “11” according to the document size “A4” 813, the orientation of the document is changed from portrait to landscape. Therefore, image reading and image output are performed efficiently, and as a result, the processing time required from image reading to image output can be shortened.

  On the other hand, when the document number detection means 1002 detects the number of documents smaller than a predetermined number corresponding to the document size, image data is output in the following procedure.

  When the user places five A4-size originals in the vertical direction on the mounting table 105, the original direction detection unit 1002 detects a predetermined original presence detection sensor (first original presence detection sensor 212a, A4 vertical original). Based on the ON signal of the presence detection sensor 212e, the A5 vertical document presence detection sensor 212c, and the A5 horizontal document presence detection sensor 212b) and the document orientation table 800, the document orientation “vertical” 807 and the document size “A4” 813 Is detected (FIG. 11: S201 → S202).

  Further, when the lift moving unit 1001 rotates the motor to raise the document to the roller 217, the document number detection unit 1002 detects the rotation amount of the motor (for example, “two rotations”), and based on the document number table 1200. Then, a predetermined range of the rotation amount “1.6 to 3.0 rotations” 1215 to which the motor rotation amount (“2 rotations”) belongs is referred to, and the “1.6 to 3.0 rotations” 1215 is changed to The corresponding number of originals “6” 1216 is acquired (FIG. 11: S203).

  When the document orientation display means receives “Portrait” 807, “A4” 813, and “6” 1216, it is necessary to display the repositioning prompt screen from “Portrait” 807 with reference to the number-of-screen display table. (FIG. 11: S204 YES).

  Further, the document orientation display unit 603 refers to a predetermined range 1208 of the number of documents corresponding to “A4” 813 (“1 sheet to 10 sheets” 1212 and “11 sheets to” 1213). Since “6 sheets” 1216 belongs to “1 sheet to 10 sheets” 1212, the document orientation display unit 603 determines that “6 sheets” 1216 is less than the predetermined number “11 sheets”. "None" 1217 associated with "1212" is acquired from the number-of-sheets display table 1205 (FIG. 11: S205 NO).

  When the document orientation display unit 603 acquires “None” 1217, it is determined that there is no need to display the repositioning prompt screen, and a signal to display the initial screen is transmitted to the condition reception unit 605. The condition receiving unit 605 displays an initial screen on the touch panel 401 and receives an input of conditions from the user.

  Subsequent operation procedures of the condition receiving unit 605, the image reading unit 606, and the function providing unit 607 are the same as those in the first embodiment, and are therefore omitted. Although the orientation of the placed document is vertical, the display of the re-placement prompting screen is omitted, so that the user can smoothly input the conditions. Further, the condition that the re-loading prompt screen is not displayed is not a range in which the orientation of the document affects the processing time required from image reading to image output. Business operations do not stagnate.

  When the document orientation detection unit 601 detects that the document is in landscape orientation (FIG. 11: S202 → S203), it is determined that the document orientation display unit 603 does not need to display the repositioning prompt screen (FIG. 11). : S204 NO). Thereafter, the operation procedure from when the condition accepting unit 605 displays the initial screen to when the function providing unit 607 outputs the image data is continued, but is omitted because it is the same as that in the first embodiment.

  As described above, the document number detection means for detecting the number of documents placed on the placing table is provided before the document is transported, and the document orientation display means is configured so that the orientation of the document is vertical and the number of documents is When the number is larger than the predetermined number, the re-placement prompting screen is displayed.

  As a result, when the orientation of the document is vertical, the repositioning prompt screen is displayed when the number of placed documents exceeds the predetermined number that most affects the document. For this reason, it is possible to effectively display the repositioning prompt screen, shorten the processing time required from image reading to image output, and when the number of originals is small, Since the display is omitted, the user can smoothly input conditions without forcing the user to change the orientation of the document. As a result, it is possible to appropriately display the repositioning reminder screen.

  Further, the document size detection means for detecting the size of the document placed on the placing table is provided before the document is conveyed, and the document orientation display means is configured such that the orientation of the document is portrait and the number of documents is equal to that of the document. When the number is larger than a predetermined number corresponding to the size, a re-placement prompting screen is displayed.

  As a result, the image forming apparatus can be flexibly adapted to the actual situation in which the length of the processing time varies depending on the size of the original and the number of originals, and the repositioning prompt screen can be displayed in an appropriate scene. Therefore, even if the size of the document to be placed is different, it is possible to effectively display the repositioning reminder screen, and when the number of documents is small, the display of the repositioning reminder screen is omitted. This makes it possible for the user to smoothly execute the business.

  In the first embodiment to the second embodiment, when the user places the document on the mounting table, the document orientation display unit displays the re-placement prompting screen. The effects of the present invention can be obtained at any time point before the document is transported, such as when the key is pressed or when a predetermined time has elapsed since the document was placed.

  In the first embodiment to the second embodiment, the first restriction plate provided on the mounting table is fixed and the second restriction plate is movable. It is also possible to make a design change such that the restriction plate is movable and the second restriction plate is fixed, or the first restriction plate and the second restriction plate are both movable.

  In the first and second embodiments, the document orientation detection unit is configured to detect the document orientation based on the combination of the ON signals of the document presence detection sensors. Other methods may be adopted as long as they can be detected. The document size detection means is also configured to detect the size of the document based on the combination of the ON signals of the document presence detection sensors. However, the design may be appropriately changed as described above.

  Further, in the first embodiment to the second embodiment, the document orientation display means displays the repositioning reminder screen and the document orientation sound generation means generates a predetermined voice message. The display of the repositioning reminder screen is omitted via the menu screen that can be operated by the user's operation or administrator authority. The generation means may be configured to generate a predetermined voice message.

  With the above configuration, it is possible to notify the user of the necessity of repositioning without hindering the user's condition input by displaying the repositioning prompt screen.

  In the second embodiment, the document orientation display means displays the same repositioning prompt screen when the orientation of the document is vertical and the number of documents is larger than a predetermined number corresponding to the size of the document. Although it is configured to display, for example, a repositioning prompt screen corresponding to the size of the document may be created, and various repositioning prompt screens may be displayed corresponding to the size of the document. .

  In the second embodiment, the document number detection unit is configured to detect the number of documents based on the rotation amount of the motor and the document number table. , And the number of documents may be detected from the intensity of transmitted light, or conversely, the number of documents may be detected from the intensity of reflected light.

  In the second embodiment, the document orientation display unit is configured to determine whether or not the number of documents exceeds a predetermined number based on the acquired number of documents and the number-of-sheets display screen. Each time the document orientation display means receives the number of documents, the acquired number of documents is compared with a predetermined number stored in advance to determine whether or not the number of documents exceeds the predetermined number. You may comprise.

  In the first embodiment to the second embodiment, the MFP is configured to include each unit. However, a program that realizes each unit is stored in a storage medium, and the storage medium is provided. It doesn't matter. In the above-described configuration, the above-described program is read by the multi-function peripheral, and the multi-function peripheral implements the above-described units. In that case, the program itself read from the recording medium exhibits the effects of the present invention. Furthermore, it is also possible to provide a storage method for storing the steps executed by each means in a hard disk.

  In the first embodiment to the second embodiment, the processing with the copy function is adopted. For example, processing such as a scan function, a facsimile transmission / reception function, a print function, a network scan function, a post-processing function, and a memory function. Can be adopted.

  As described above, the image forming apparatus according to the present invention is useful for a copying machine, a printer, a multifunction machine, and the like. This is effective as an image forming apparatus capable of displaying a screen that prompts the user to do so.

1 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an overall configuration inside a multifunction peripheral according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a mounting table of the automatic document feeder according to the embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an automatic document feeder according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the screen displayed on the touchscreen which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the control system hardware of the invention which concerns on embodiment of this invention. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of a multifunction machine according to the first embodiment. It is a flowchart for showing the execution procedure of 1st embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the original direction table and screen display table which concern on 1st embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the screen displayed on the touch panel of 1st embodiment. FIG. 9 is a functional block diagram of a multifunction machine according to a second embodiment. It is a flowchart for showing the execution procedure of 2nd embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a document number table and a number-screen display table according to a second embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

100 MFP 104 Automatic Document Feeding Device 601 Document Direction Detection Unit 602 Document Direction Storage Unit 603 Document Direction Display Unit (Document Direction Sound Generation Unit)
604 Re-reposition prompt storage means 605 Condition reception means 606 Image reading means 607 Function providing means 1001 Lift plate moving means 1002 Document number detection means 1003 Document number storage means 1003

Claims (4)

In an image forming apparatus provided with an automatic document feeder that conveys documents placed on a table one by one and reads an image of a document,
Before the document is transported, the orientation of the placed document is a portrait orientation in which the short side of the document is parallel to the main scanning direction of the reading unit, or the long side of the document is parallel. Document orientation detection means for detecting whether the orientation is landscape orientation,
And an original orientation display means for displaying a repositioning prompting screen, which is a screen for prompting the user to reposition the original in landscape orientation when the orientation of the document is portrait. Forming equipment. In an image forming apparatus provided with an automatic document feeder that conveys documents placed on a table one by one and reads an image of a document,
Before the document is transported, the orientation of the placed document is a portrait orientation in which the short side of the document is parallel to the main scanning direction of the reading unit, or the long side of the document is parallel. Document orientation detection means for detecting whether the orientation is landscape orientation,
Document number detection means for detecting the number of documents placed above,
Document orientation display that displays a repositioning reminder screen that prompts the user to reposition the document in landscape orientation when the orientation of the document is portrait and the number of documents is greater than a predetermined number And an image forming apparatus. Further, the apparatus includes a document size detecting unit that detects the size of the document placed on the placing table before conveying the document,
3. The document orientation display means displays a repositioning reminder screen when the orientation of the document is vertical and the number of documents is larger than a predetermined number corresponding to the size of the document. The image forming apparatus described in 1.   Further, instead of displaying the repositioning reminder screen by the document orientation display means, or together with the display of the repositioning reminder screen, a document that generates a sound that prompts the user to reposition the document in the landscape orientation The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a direction sound generating unit.

Images