JP2013088593A - Image processing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image processing device that enables quick reading processing and recording processing and extends the service life of components in an image reading part and an image recording part.SOLUTION: The image processing device 1 includes: an image reading part that moves an image reading unit 13 in a read sub-scanning direction with respect to a document on a document reading surface 11a and repeats reading in a read main-scanning direction to read an image of the document; an image recording part 20 for recording an image by repeating recording in a recording main-scanning direction, while moving a recording sheet in a recording sub-scanning direction; and a paper feed cassette 41 for housing a plurality of stacked recording sheets of a predetermined size. A maximum read main-scanning length Lm is longer than a maximum read sub-scanning length Lv, and the read main-scanning direction is parallel to the recording main-scanning direction, and the recording sheet is transferred to the image recording part 20 so that a long side of a maximum-size recording sheet which can be stored in the paper feed cassette 41 is parallel to the recording main-scanning direction.

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, and in particular, image processing capable of reading an image of a document by an FBS (Flat Bed Scanner) method, recording (printing) the read image on a recording sheet by an image recording unit, and discharging the same. Relates to the device.

  Conventionally, in a multi-function machine equipped with functions such as a copying machine, a scanner, a printer, and a facsimile, a document up to A3 size is read by an image reading unit, and the read image is printed on a recording sheet of A3 size or less. A type capable of outputting (hereinafter referred to as “A3 machine”) is used. In the A3 machine, the document reading surface on which the document is placed is set to a size corresponding to the A3 size, and the user reads the image of the A3 size document at the maximum by the image reading unit using the FBS method. Can be made. In the A3 machine, the user can use an ADF (Automatic Document Feeder) to cause the image reading unit to read the image of the document (ADF method).

  There is also known a multi-function machine capable of printing output on a recording paper having a maximum document size A4 size that can be read by the FBS method (hereinafter referred to as “A4 machine”). In such an A4 machine, the document reading surface is set to a size corresponding to the A4 size.

  Most of originals and recording paper used in offices are A4 size, and A3 size originals and recording paper are very rarely used. However, since there is an opportunity to use A3 size originals and recording paper even though the frequency is low, the A3 machine is relatively frequently used.

  On the other hand, in a small office or home, there is a case where there is no room for installing an A3 machine that requires a large installation area because of the A3 size that is not frequently used. Therefore, there is a demand for an A4 machine that requires a small installation area as well.

  In the A3 machine and the A4 machine, the rectangular document reading surface for FBS is provided so as to be long in the lateral direction (left-right direction) with respect to the user standing in front of the multifunction machine. For this reason, in the MFP, the main scanning direction when reading an image of a document of the maximum document size (A3 and A4, respectively) using the FBS method or the ADF method is set to the short side direction of the document. The sub-scanning direction is set to the long side direction of the document. That is, component parts (for example, a mirror and a read head) of the image reading unit move relative to the original in the long side direction of the original to read the image of the original.

  Further, in the above multi-function peripheral, the maximum recording paper size of the recording paper stored in the paper feed cassette is the same size as the maximum original size that can be read by the FBS method. In the image recording unit for recording (printing) the read original image, the recording main scanning direction when recording on the recording paper of the maximum recording paper size is set to the short side direction of the recording paper, The scanning direction is set to the long side direction of the recording paper. That is, the recording paper is fed in the longitudinal direction and recorded (printed) on the recording paper using a photosensitive drum or the like.

  On the other hand, in the same way as in the above-mentioned multifunction peripheral, in the multifunction peripheral in which the rectangular document reading surface is set to be long in the lateral direction with respect to the user, the reading main scanning direction is set to the original in order to shorten the time required for reading. A document set in the long side direction of a document of the maximum document size placed on the reading surface has been proposed (see Patent Document 1). That is, the component parts of the image reading unit move relative to the original in the short side direction of the original.

  In accordance with this, the ADF (automatic document feeder) provided in the multifunction machine of Patent Document 1 is disposed at the end of the upper surface of the apparatus on the side opposite to the user (the back side of the apparatus). The document placed on the printer is conveyed in a direction away from the user (direction toward the back in the depth direction of the apparatus), read by the image reading unit, and then returned to the user side again. . In the multifunction device disclosed in Patent Document 1, the reading main scanning direction is set to the long side direction of the original, but the recording main scanning direction is set to the short side direction of the recording paper as in the conventional A3 machine. Yes.

JP 2004-205918 A

  In the above-described A3 and A4 machines, the reading sub-scanning direction is along the long side direction of the document with the maximum document size, and the recording sub-scanning direction is along the long side direction of the recording sheet with the maximum recording sheet size. At the time of recording (printing), it is necessary to relatively move the document by the length of the long side along the reading sub-scanning direction and the recording sub-scanning direction. For this reason, it takes a long time to read and record (print) on the recording paper for each original and recording paper. As a result, the conventional A3 machine and A4 machine have a problem that the use time of parts used for reading and recording is long, and the frequency of replacement and maintenance of these parts increases. For example, the light source in the image reading unit requires a long lighting time, and the photosensitive drum in the image recording unit becomes longer in contact time with the recording paper, so that wear progresses and the usable period becomes shorter.

  On the other hand, in the multifunction device described in Patent Document 1, since the reading sub-scanning direction is set to the short side direction of the document, the reading time can be shortened. However, in the multi-function device of Patent Document 1, since the recording sub-scanning direction is set to the long side direction of the recording paper, it takes a long time to record on the recording paper. The problem of high cost cannot be solved.

  In the multifunction device disclosed in Patent Document 1, since the ADF is disposed at the end of the upper surface of the apparatus on the side opposite to the user (the back side of the apparatus), when the ADF causes a paper jam, the jammed document is removed. However, a new problem arises that it is very time-consuming. In particular, when the apparatus is arranged facing the wall, it is difficult to access a jammed document, and the maintainability is extremely deteriorated.

  The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and can quickly execute a document reading process and a recording process on a recording sheet, and has a long service life of components of the image reading unit and the image recording unit. An object of the present invention is to provide an image processing apparatus capable of achieving the above.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an image reading unit for a document placed on a document reading surface that defines a maximum document size that can be read by the maximum reading main scanning length and the maximum reading sub-scanning length. Is moved in the reading sub-scanning direction, and reading of the image of the document in the reading main scanning direction is repeated, thereby feeding an image reading unit that reads the image of the document and a plurality of recording sheets of a predetermined size in a stacked state. The image read by the image reading unit is recorded on the recording paper by repeating the recording of the image in the recording main scanning direction while moving the cassette and the recording paper supplied from the paper feeding cassette in the recording sub-scanning direction. An image recording unit, wherein the maximum reading main scanning length is set to be longer than the maximum reading sub-scanning length, and the reading main scanning direction is recorded. The paper feed cassette is set in parallel with the scanning direction. When the maximum size recording paper that can be accommodated in the paper feeding cassette is supplied to the image recording unit, the long side of the recording paper is in the recording main scanning direction. The recording paper is sent out to the image recording unit so as to be parallel to the image recording unit.

  According to the present invention configured as described above, when the maximum reading main scanning length is set to be longer than the maximum reading sub scanning length, the maximum reading sub scanning length is set to be longer than the maximum reading main scanning length. As compared with the above, it is possible to shorten the distance that the image reading unit of the image reading unit physically moves in the reading sub-scanning direction during the reading process, and to shorten the processing time required for the reading process. Accordingly, it is possible to extend the life of the components of the image reading unit.

  In the present invention, since the long side of the maximum recording sheet size sent out from the paper feed cassette is sent out to the image recording unit in a state parallel to the recording main scanning direction, The recording process is performed with the sides along the main recording scanning direction and the short sides of the recording paper along the recording sub-scanning direction. Compared to the case where the recording process is performed with the short side of the recording sheet of the maximum recording sheet size along the main recording scanning direction and the long side of the recording sheet of the maximum recording sheet size along the main recording scanning direction. Thus, the distance that the recording portion (eg, photosensitive drum, inkjet head, etc.) of the image recording portion moves relative to the recording paper in the recording sub-scanning direction during the recording process can be shortened. Such processing time can be shortened. Accordingly, it is possible to extend the life of the components of the image recording unit.

  Further, in the present invention, since the reading main scanning direction is set parallel to the recording main scanning direction, the arrangement direction of the image reading unit and the image recording unit can be made uniform, and the image reading unit and the image recording unit Can be arranged compactly in the vertical direction.

In the present invention, preferably, the reading main scanning direction and the recording main scanning direction are along the depth direction from the front to the back of the image processing apparatus in which the user stands at the time of use.
According to the present invention configured as described above, the width of the apparatus in the left-right direction can be narrowed while the depth of the apparatus is kept the same as that of a multi-function peripheral that supports a size larger than the maximum recording paper size.

In the present invention, it is preferable that the maximum document size is the same as the maximum recording paper size of the recording paper that can be stored in the paper feed cassette.
According to the present invention configured as described above, since the maximum document size and the maximum recording paper size are the same size, the sizes of the image reading unit and the image recording unit can be made uniform. By arranging the parts in the vertical direction, the apparatus layout can be made compact.

In the present invention, preferably, the maximum document size and the maximum recording paper size are A4 sizes.
According to the present invention configured as described above, since the maximum document size and the maximum recording paper size are A4 size, the installation area of the apparatus is compatible with the A4 size document and recording paper normally used in offices and the like. Can be reduced in size.

In the present invention, it is preferable to further include an automatic document feeder that can transport a document larger than the maximum document size to the image reading unit in the reading sub-scanning direction.
According to the present invention configured as described above, the FBS is provided with an automatic document feeder (ADF) capable of transporting a document in the same direction as the reading sub-scanning direction in the FBS method. It is possible to read a document having a size larger than that of the maximum document size that can be read by the method.

  For example, in the present invention, when the maximum document size is A4 size, when it becomes necessary to read the A3 size document by the image reading unit, the A3 size document can be read by the ADF method. Therefore, in the present invention, for example, the apparatus size can be made a compact size corresponding to the A4 size, although the reading processing corresponding to the A3 size is possible.

In the present invention, it is preferable to further include a manual feed tray capable of conveying a recording sheet larger than a recording sheet having a maximum recording sheet size that can be accommodated in the sheet feeding cassette in the recording sub-scanning direction with respect to the image recording unit.
According to the present invention configured as described above, by using the manual feed tray, recording (printing) can be performed on the recording paper having a size larger than the maximum recording size that can be stored in the paper feed cassette by the image recording unit. . In the present invention, the size of the recording paper that can be recorded (printed) can be set larger than the maximum document size that can be read by the FBS method. Therefore, in the present invention, for example, the apparatus size can be made a compact size corresponding to the A4 size although the recording processing corresponding to the A3 size is possible.

  According to the image processing apparatus of the present invention, the document reading process and the recording process on the recording paper can be executed quickly, and the life of the components of the image reading unit and the image recording unit can be extended.

1 is a front view of an image processing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is explanatory drawing seen from the front side which shows the structure of the image processing apparatus of the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing seen from the right side which shows the structure of the image processing apparatus of the 1st Embodiment of this invention. 1 is a plan view of an image processing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is explanatory drawing of the paper feed cassette of the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a front view of the image processing apparatus of the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing seen from the front side which shows the structure of the image processing apparatus of the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a modification of the image processing apparatus of the second embodiment of the present invention. It is the further modification of the image processing apparatus of the 2nd Embodiment of this invention.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
First, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 is a front view of the image processing apparatus, FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram viewed from the front side showing the configuration of the image processing apparatus, FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram viewed from the right side showing the configuration of the image processing apparatus, and FIG. FIG. 5 is an explanatory view of the paper feed cassette.

The image processing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 is a multifunction machine having a copying function, a scanner function, a printer function, a facsimile function, and the like. The image processing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment is suitable for reading an image of an A4 size document and recording (printing) on an A4 size recording sheet. As shown in FIG. 2, the image processing apparatus 1 includes an image reading unit 10, an image recording unit 20, a document sending unit 30, a paper feeding unit 40, a discharge unit 50, and an operation unit 60. As shown in FIG. 1, a part of the image reading unit 10, the image recording unit 20, the paper feed unit 40, and the discharge unit 50 are accommodated in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped casing (apparatus main body) 2. .
The operation unit 60 is an operation panel for inputting and displaying a document size, a recording paper size, an enlargement / reduction ratio, the number of copies, a FAX number, and the like.

  The image reading unit 10 is for reading an image of a document. As shown in FIG. 2, the document reading plate 11, a document table cover 12 covering the document placement plate 11, and the document placement plate 11 are arranged. A document reading unit 13 is provided at the bottom.

  The document placing plate 11 is a transparent plate-like member for placing a document on the document when the document is read by the FBS method, and is disposed on the uppermost surface of the apparatus main body 2. The document placement surface of the document placement plate 11 is a document reading surface 11a (see FIG. 4), and is adapted to a size that enables reading of an A4 size document at the maximum. In the present embodiment, the document placing plate 11 is rectangular in plan view, the short side is arranged in parallel in the left-right direction (A direction), and the long side is arranged in parallel in the depth direction (B direction in FIG. 4). Has been.

  The document table cover 12 is disposed on the upper part of the apparatus main body 2. The document table cover 12 is configured to sandwich a document placed on the document placement plate 11 between the document placement plate 11 and the document placement plate 11. A hinge (not shown) provided can be rotated about a rotation center.

  In the present specification, the front surface of the multifunction device 1 means the side surface shown in FIG. 1 (that is, the side surface on which the operation unit 60 is provided and the user stands at the time of use). The back means the side opposite to the front. Further, the width direction or the left-right direction is the left-right direction in FIG. 1, and the depth direction is a direction orthogonal to the paper surface in FIG. 1 (that is, a direction from the front to the back). Further, the left side and the right side of the multifunction machine 1 mean the left side and the right side of FIG.

  The document reading unit 13 is disposed over the uppermost portion of the apparatus main body 2, and includes a light source 14 that irradiates light on the document, mirrors 15 a, 15 b, and 15 c that change a path of an optical path of reflected light from the document, and a light source 14. And a moving mechanism (not shown) for moving the mirrors 15a, 15b, and 15c in the reading sub-scanning direction (left-right direction A), a condensing lens 16 for converging light from the mirror 15c, and light from the condensing lens 16 Is provided with an image sensor (CCD) 17 for reading an image of a document. Image data read by the image sensor 17 is stored in an image memory (not shown).

  In the present embodiment, during the reading process, the document reading unit 13 acquires image data of a document in a reading area selected according to the size of the document. Specifically, based on a drive signal from a control unit (not shown), the document reading unit 13 is moved along the reading sub-scanning direction A from one end side to the other end side in the short side direction of the placed document by the moving mechanism. The mirror 15a and the light source 14 are moved. During this time, the moving mechanism moves the mirrors 15b and 15c in the reading sub-scanning direction A by a distance that is half the moving distance of the mirror 15a.

Then, the document reading unit 13 moves from one end side to the other end side in the long side direction of the placed document while the mirror 15a moves in the reading sub-scanning direction A (depth direction B in FIG. 4). ), The document is scanned for each unit pixel, and partial image data of the document for each unit pixel is acquired by the image sensor 17 repeatedly. As a result, when the movement of the mirror 15a in the reading sub-scanning direction A is completed, image data of the entire original composed of a large number of pixels is obtained.
Note that image data for each pixel (pixel) constituting an image portion of the document is sequentially acquired (or printed) in the main scanning direction by main scanning, and the position of the main scanning is determined by the paper scanning direction or the scanner by sub scanning. It is moved in the head feed direction (ie, sub-scanning direction).

  In the present embodiment, the reduction optical method reading method is employed, but the present invention is not limited to this, and an equal magnification optical method (contact sensor method) using a CIS sensor may be employed. In the present embodiment, the two-carriage optical system moving method is adopted. However, in the case of the contact sensor method, the one-carriage method can be adopted.

  The image recording unit 20 has a photoconductive film on the outer peripheral surface and rotates around a rotation shaft 21a, a charger 22 that uniformly charges the photoconductive film of the photoconductive drum 21 to a predetermined potential, An exposure unit 23 that forms an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 21; a developing unit 24 that supplies toner to the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 21 and develops the electrostatic latent image; 21, a transfer roller 25 for transferring onto the recording paper from above, a fixing roller 26 for heating and fixing the toner image on the recording paper, paper supply rollers 27 a and 27 b for feeding the recording paper from the paper supply unit 40 to the photosensitive drum 21, and the recording paper Are provided with a registration roller 28 and a discharge roller 29 for discharging the recording paper to the discharge unit 50.

  The image recording unit 20 is configured to print the image data read from the image memory on a recording sheet. The image data includes image data acquired by the image reading unit 10 and image data received from the outside (facsimile, PC, etc.) via a transmission / reception device (not shown).

  The image recording unit 20 repeatedly records a partial image in the recording main scanning direction along the direction in which the rotation shaft 21 a of the photosensitive drum 21 extends while moving the recording paper with respect to the photosensitive drum 21 in the recording sub-scanning direction. Thus, all images based on the image data are recorded (printed) on the recording paper.

The above components constituting the image recording unit 20 are arranged so as to be stacked mainly in the right space in the apparatus main body 2 except for the developing device 24 and the like in order to avoid an in-cylinder discharge space 51 described later. That is, a heavy object is arranged on the right side in the apparatus main body 2. For this reason, the apparatus main body 2 is comprised so that the rigidity of the right side may become high so that these heavy objects may be supported.
In this embodiment, an electrophotographic printer (laser scanning method or LED head method) is used. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and an ink jet printer, a thermal printer, or the like may be used.

A document sending unit (ADF) 30 is configured to feed a document on a sheet feed tray 31 on which a plurality of documents can be placed, a pickup roller 32 that feeds a document on the sheet feed tray 31 downstream, and a document on the sheet feed tray 31. A separation roller 33 that supplies and feeds the separated documents one by one, a registration roller 34 that adjusts the orientation of the separated document, a transport roller 35 that feeds the document to the downstream side, and a narrow, narrow, transparent transparent material through which the fed document passes the upper surface A translucent plate 36 and a paper discharge tray 37 for storing the discharged original are provided. The document sending unit 30 constitutes an ADF (automatic document feeder).
The document sending unit 30 is mainly attached to the document table cover 12 integrally, but the translucent plate 36 is disposed slightly apart along the left end of the document placing plate 11.

  The paper feed unit 40 includes a paper feed cassette 41 for storing a plurality of recording papers 3 having a size equal to or smaller than a predetermined maximum recording paper size (A4 size in this example), and a predetermined recording paper size larger than the maximum recording paper size. A manual feed tray 43 that can accommodate recording paper of an expanded size (A3 size in this example) or less is provided. In the present embodiment, the recording paper 3 is not a roll paper but a cut paper cut to a specified size. In the present embodiment, only one paper feed cassette is provided. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a plurality of paper feed cassettes may be provided.

The paper feed cassette 41 is arranged at the lowermost part in the apparatus main body 2 so as to avoid the components arranged in the image recording unit 20 in a stacked manner. The paper feed cassette 41 can be inserted into the apparatus body 2 from the front side to the back side of the apparatus body 2.
The manual feed tray 43 is disposed on the right side of the apparatus main body 2 and is configured to be housed and unfoldable. The manual feed tray 43 constitutes a part of the right side wall of the apparatus main body 2 in a state where it is accommodated in the apparatus main body 2. In FIG. 2, the manual feed tray 43 is folded and accommodated in the apparatus main body 2.

  The discharge unit 50 has an in-cylinder discharge space 51 provided in the apparatus main body 2 so as to store the recording paper printed by the image recording unit 20. The in-cylinder discharge space 51 is a space between the image reading unit 10 and the paper feed cassette 41 on the left side of the image recording unit 20 that is stacked in the vertical direction. The in-body discharge space 51 is partitioned from the image reading unit 10 and the image recording unit 20 by the lower side wall 51a of the document reading unit 13, the upper side wall 51b and the vertical wall 51c of the image recording unit 20, and The front side wall and the left side wall of the apparatus main body 2 are opened. The discharge part 50 constitutes an in-body discharge part.

Next, with reference to FIG. 4, the reading main scanning direction and the reading sub-scanning direction in the multifunction machine 1 of the present embodiment will be described.
As shown in FIG. 4, the document placing plate 11 used in the FBS method and the long translucent plate 36 used in the ADF method constitute the uppermost surface of the apparatus main body 2 and are arranged in parallel to each other. Yes.

In this example, the document placing plate 11 is adapted to a size corresponding to an A4 size document, and defines a maximum reading area in the FBS method. That is, the maximum document size that can be read in the maximum reading area is A4 size. The maximum reading area is rectangular, the short side is parallel to the left-right direction A of the apparatus main body 2, and the long side is parallel to the depth direction B of the apparatus main body 2. As shown in FIG. 4, the maximum reading range includes the long side length of the original platen plate 11 (maximum reading main scanning length Lm) and the short side length of the original platen plate 11 (maximum reading sub-scanning). Length Lv).
On the other hand, the elongated translucent plate 36 has the same length as the long side length of the document placing plate 11 and is disposed along the long side of the document placing plate 11 in parallel with the depth direction B. Yes.

  Therefore, as can be seen from FIG. 4, the multifunction device 1 of the present embodiment is configured such that the width in the left-right direction is shorter than the depth. That is, the left and right widths are narrow and compact compared to the conventional A3 machine, and the installation area is small.

  As described above, the mirror 15a and the light source 14 of the image reading unit 20 are configured to move in the left-right direction A within the apparatus main body 2 so that the maximum reading range can be scanned. Therefore, the reading sub-scanning direction in the FBS method is the direction A, and the reading main scanning direction is the direction B.

  When the original is read by the ADF method, the original passes through the translucent plate 36 by the original sending unit (ADF) 30. At this time, the mirror 15 a and the light source 14 are positioned at a lower portion of the translucent plate 36 in a stationary state, and the image reading unit 10 reads an image of the document through the translucent plate 36. Accordingly, the reading main scanning direction and the reading sub-scanning direction by the ADF method are the direction B and the direction A, respectively, as in the FBS method.

Next, the recording main scanning direction and the recording sub-scanning direction in the multifunction machine 1 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 5, in the paper feed cassette 41 of the paper feed unit 40, the long side of the recording paper 3 of the maximum recording paper size that can be accommodated is parallel to the depth direction B of the apparatus main body 2, and the short side is the apparatus main body. The recording paper 3 is accommodated so as to be parallel to the horizontal direction A of 2. As indicated by arrow C, the recording paper 3 is fed to the image recording unit 20 by the paper feed roller 27a along the short side direction. In the present embodiment, the maximum recording paper size is the same size as the maximum document size.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the photosensitive drum 21 of the image recording unit 20 is arranged so that the rotation shaft 21 a is parallel to the depth direction B of the apparatus main body 2. The direction in which the rotation shaft 21 a extends is parallel to the long side direction of the recording paper 3 of the maximum recording paper size accommodated in the paper feed cassette 41.

Accordingly, when the recording paper 3 having the maximum recording paper size is supplied to the image recording unit 20, the recording paper 3 comes into contact with the photosensitive drum 21 from one long side with both short sides along the traveling direction. The recording paper 3 passes between the photosensitive drum 21 and the transfer roller 25 to transfer the image, and then the image is fixed by the fixing roller 26. Therefore, in the recording paper 3 of the maximum recording paper size fed from the paper feed cassette 41, the long side direction (that is, the direction in which the rotating shaft 21a extends) is the recording main scanning direction, and the short side direction (that is, the paper feeding direction). ) Is the recording sub-scanning direction. Further, the maximum recording main scanning length lm of the recording paper 3 is a long side length, and the maximum recording sub-scanning length lv is a short side length.
Therefore, in the present embodiment, the reading main scanning direction and the recording main scanning direction are set in parallel.

  When a method other than the electrophotographic method is employed, for example, when an ink jet method is employed, the direction in which the ink jet head moves during recording coincides with the direction in which the rotating shaft 21a extends. The long side direction of the size of the recording paper 3 is the recording main scanning direction.

Next, the operation of the multifunction machine 1 of this embodiment will be described.
First, a case where the user copies an A4 size (maximum document size) document by the FBS method will be described. In this case, when the user places an A4 size document on the document reading surface 11a and operates the operation unit 60, the copying machine 1 executes document image reading processing and recording processing.
The control unit determines the size of the document by a document size sensor (not shown), operates the document reading unit 13 to read the image of the document, and takes the read image data into the image memory.

  At this time, in this embodiment, since the reading main scanning direction is along the long side of the document and the reading sub-scanning direction is along the short side of the document, the distance for moving the mirror or the like in the sub-scanning direction is long. Shorter. For this reason, the time required for the reading process can be shortened and the process can be performed quickly. Furthermore, since the operation time of the light source 14 and the moving mechanism (per original document) can be shortened, the frequency of replacement and maintenance of the light source 14 and mechanical parts can be reduced.

At substantially the same time as the capture of the image data, the control unit operates the image recording unit 20 to feed A4 size recording paper from the paper feed cassette 41 to the image recording unit 20 and print an image on the recording paper.
At this time, in this embodiment, the recording main scanning direction is along the long side of the recording paper, and the recording sub-scanning direction is along the short side of the recording paper, so the recording paper is the photosensitive drum 21 of the image recording unit 20. The time to pass is shortened. For this reason, it is possible to shorten the time for which the recording paper is processed in the image recording unit 20, and to perform the recording process quickly. Further, since the contact time or contact length between the photosensitive drum 21 and the recording paper is shortened per recording paper, and the operation time of the driving mechanism can be shortened, the photosensitive drum 21 and the driving mechanism can be replaced or maintained. The frequency can be reduced.

  In the present embodiment, the FBS system supports image reading processing of a document having a size up to the maximum document size (A4 in this example). This is because the size of most commonly used documents is the maximum document size (A4 size), and reading processing of a document with a size exceeding the maximum document size (for example, A3 size) is usually unnecessary. Because. As described above, in this embodiment, by limiting the document reading process by the FBS method to the A4 size, the size of the apparatus, particularly the installation area of the apparatus can be reduced, and the apparatus can be used in a small office or home. it can.

  As described above, the size of a document that is generally used is almost A4 size, but there is a case where it is necessary to copy an A3 size document at a low frequency. In this case, the copying machine 1 of the present embodiment can copy an A3 size document by the ADF method as described below.

  A case where the user copies an A3 size document by the ADF method will be described. In this case, after the user places the A3 size document on the paper feed tray 31 of the ADF 30 and expands the manual feed tray 43 to place the A3 size recording paper on the manual feed tray 43, the operation unit 60 is operated. By operating, the copying machine 1 executes a document image reading process and a recording process.

The control unit determines the size of the document by a document size sensor (not shown), operates the ADF 30 and the document reading unit 13, reads the image of the document, and takes the read image data into the image memory.
At substantially the same time as the capture of the image data, the control unit feeds A3 size recording paper from the manual feed tray 43 to the image recording unit 20, and the image recording unit 20 prints an image on the recording paper.

  In this embodiment, the maximum document size that can be read by the FBS method is A4. However, an A3 size document that is larger than the A4 size can be read by the ADF method, and the A3 size document is supplied from the manual feed tray 43. It can be copied on A3 size recording paper. Therefore, in the present embodiment, it is possible to copy a document having a larger size than the size of the document reading surface 11a used in the FBS method. In other words, the multifunction device 1 according to the present embodiment can cope with the A3 size reading process, and the apparatus main body 2 can have a compact size corresponding to the A4 size.

In the above description, the case of copying from a document to a recording sheet at the same magnification has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and copying may be performed at an enlargement or reduction magnification depending on the setting of the operation unit 60. In this case, in the multifunction device 1 of the present embodiment, recording paper having a size different from that of the read document is supplied from the paper feed cassette 41 or the manual feed tray 43, and an enlarged or reduced image can be recorded (printed) on the recording paper. .
In the above description, the case where an A3 size document is read by the ADF method has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and other size documents including a maximum document size (A4 size) document are read by the ADF method. can do.

As described above, the multifunction device 1 according to the present embodiment can read a document having a size up to A3 size similarly to the A3 device, while having the same installation area as that of the A4 device. It is possible to provide sufficient practicality while reducing the size in accordance with the actual situation.
In addition, since the multifunction device 1 according to the present embodiment can share parts with the A3 device, the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

  Further, in the copying machine 1 of the present embodiment, the short side of the rectangular document reading surface 11a is along the left-right direction A of the apparatus main body 2, and the long side is along the depth direction B. The reading main scanning direction is along the depth direction B, and the reading sub-scanning direction is along the left-right direction A. Further, the ADF 30 can be disposed along the left and right end portions of the apparatus main body 2 so as to feed the document in the reading sub-scanning direction. With this configuration, when a paper jam occurs in the ADF 30, the user can easily access the ADF 30 from the front side to eliminate the paper jam situation and ensure good maintainability. It becomes possible. In this example, the ADF 30 is arranged at the left end, but may be arranged at the right end.

  When the long side of the document reading surface 11a is configured to be along the left-right direction of the apparatus main body 2 and the main scanning direction is set to the long side direction of the document reading surface 11a, the ADF 30 It will be arranged at the rear side end of the main body 2. In this case, when a paper jam occurs in the ADF 30, it is difficult for the user to access the ADF 30, and the maintainability becomes poor.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the size of the document reading surface 11a is adapted to the A4 size in the multifunction machine 1, but this is not limiting, and the size of the document reading surface 11a may be adapted to another size. That is, the size of the document reading surface 11a is, for example, Letter size (8.5 × 11 inches), Legal size (8.5 × 14 inches), Ledger size (11 × 17 inches), B4 size, A3 size, etc. The copier 1 of this embodiment may be configured so as to be adapted. In this case, in any size, the document reading surface 11a can be configured such that the long side of the recording paper is along the depth direction B and the short side is along the left-right direction A.
When the maximum document size is configured to be the Letter size and the B4 size as described above, the Ledger size and B3 size documents can be read by the ADF method, respectively.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 6 is a front view of the image processing apparatus, and FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram viewed from the front side showing the configuration of the image processing apparatus. In addition, the description which overlaps with 1st Embodiment is abbreviate | omitted, and the mainly different structure is demonstrated.
As illustrated in FIG. 6, the multifunction machine 1 </ b> A according to the present embodiment has a configuration in which a second paper feed cassette 45 and a finisher device 70 are added to the multifunction machine 1 according to the first embodiment.

  A relay unit 55 is attached to the upper portion of the discharge portion 50 in the in-body discharge space 51. As shown in FIG. 7, the relay unit 55 conveys the recording paper discharged from the discharge roller 29 of the image recording unit 20 to the finisher device 70, and includes a plurality of transfer rollers 56 driven by a motor. ing.

  The second paper feed cassette 45 is attached to the lower part of the paper feed cassette 41. The paper feed cassette 41 accommodates recording paper up to A4 size, which is the maximum document size, but the added second paper feed cassette 45 has an expanded size (A3 size) larger than the maximum document size. Can be accommodated. Accordingly, the second paper feed cassette 45 is larger in size than the paper feed cassette 41.

  Specifically, the second paper feed cassette 45 records the A3 size recording paper to be stored so that the short side direction is along the depth direction B of the apparatus main body 2 and the long side direction is along the left-right direction A of the apparatus main body 2. Contains paper. Therefore, in the state where the maximum size of recording paper that can be stored in each of the paper feeding cassettes 41 and 45 is stored, the length in the depth direction B of the recording paper 3a in the second paper feeding cassette 45 (the short side of A3) is The length of the recording paper 3 in the paper feed cassette 41 in the depth direction B (the long side of A4) is the same. Therefore, the lengths in the depth direction B of the sheet feeding cassettes 41 and 45 are configured to be the same.

  On the other hand, in a state where the maximum size of recording paper that can be stored in each of the paper feeding cassettes 41 and 45 is stored, the length of the recording paper 3a in the second paper feeding cassette 45 in the left-right direction A (the long side of A3) is This is twice the length of the recording paper 3 in the paper feed cassette 41 in the left-right direction A (the short side of A4). Therefore, the length of the second paper feed cassette 45 in the left-right direction A is longer than the length of the paper feed cassette 41 in the left-right direction A. For this reason, in the multi-function peripheral 1A shown in FIG. 6, the second paper feed cassette 45 projects leftward from the paper feed cassette 41 and the apparatus main body 2 in plan view. The finisher device 70 is placed on the protruding portion 46 of the second paper feed cassette 45 that protrudes in the left-right direction A from the apparatus main body 2.

  As shown in FIG. 7, a paper feed roller 27 c for taking out the recording paper 3 a in the second paper feed cassette 45 is added to the image recording unit 20. The recording paper 3a accommodated in the second paper feeding cassette 45 is sent to the image recording unit 20 by the paper feeding roller 27c being operated by the drive signal of the control unit.

  The finisher device 70 processes the recording paper ejected from the image recording unit 20 and conveyed via the relay unit 55. The finisher device 70 includes a vertically long casing 71 having a substantially rectangular outer shape, a plurality of discharge trays 73 arranged in the vertical direction in the casing 71, and a switching guide mechanism that distributes discharged documents to the plurality of discharge trays 73. 75. The upper surface of the casing 71 is set to be substantially the same height as the upper surface of the apparatus main body 2 (that is, the upper surface of the document placing plate 11).

  The switching guide mechanism 75 includes a driving roller 75a, a switching guide 75b, and a plurality of discharge rollers 75c corresponding to the respective discharge trays 73, and these are driven by a motor. A conveyance path is formed between the switching guide 75b and each discharge roller 75c.

In the finisher device 70, when the document is conveyed, the switching guide mechanism 75 is operated based on the drive signal from the control unit. The switching guide mechanism 75 sends the discharged document to a desired discharge tray 73 by switching the conveyance path through which the switching guide 75b sends the discharged document for each discharged document.
In the embodiment of FIGS. 6 and 7, for the sake of easy understanding, the case where there are only two paper discharge trays 73 is shown. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and three or more paper discharge trays are provided. Also good.

  In the present embodiment, the ADF 30 is disposed at the left end of the upper surface of the apparatus main body 2, but is not positioned at the upper part of the finisher apparatus 70. In other words, the ADF 30 is not disposed at a position that hinders at least the upward and downward movement of the paper discharge tray 73. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the discharge tray 73 is maintained at a fixed height. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a configuration in which discharged document sheets are sorted by moving up and down the multi-stage discharge tray 73 in the vertical direction. It can be. When such an elevating type sorting mechanism is provided, at least the upper discharge tray 73 of the multi-stage discharge trays 73 can be configured to move upward beyond the document placement plate 11. .

  Further, in the present embodiment, the finisher device 70 has a function of sorting discharged documents. However, the finisher device 70 is not limited to this, and may have a function such as stapling and punching.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the second paper feed cassette 45 that accommodates the recording paper having the expanded size (A3 size) larger than the maximum recording paper size (A4 size) is provided, so that it protrudes from the apparatus main body 2. The finisher device 70 can be mounted on the protruding portion 46. That is, the multifunction machine 1A according to the present embodiment can include the finisher device 70 regardless of the installation area equivalent to that of the A3 machine.
Therefore, in the multifunction machine 1A of the present embodiment, the installation area is not further increased by adding the finisher device as in the conventional A3 machine, and the entire apparatus can be configured compactly.

  In addition, the MFP 1A of the present embodiment has an installation area equivalent to that of the A3 machine, and can read the A3 size document, but the size of the image reading unit 10 is equivalent to that of the A4 machine. Can be in size. As a result, the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

  Further, in the multi-function machine 1A of the present embodiment, the finisher device 70 independent of the device main body 2 can be disposed adjacently, so that the height of the finisher device 70 is not limited by the device main body 2. For this reason, the finisher device 70 can be provided with sufficient functions without being limited by various functions and the number of paper discharge trays due to height restrictions.

  In the multifunction machine 1A of the present embodiment, the ADF 30 and the finisher device 70 are both disposed on the same side in the left-right direction of the apparatus main body 2 (left side in this example). Documents and recording paper can be taken out from the finisher device 70. The ADF and the finisher device 70 may be arranged on the right side of the device main body 2.

Next, a modified example of the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
In the multifunction machine 1B shown in FIG. 8, the apparatus main body 2A is configured to be bilaterally symmetric with the multifunction machine 1 and the apparatus main body 2 of the first embodiment (excluding the image reading unit 10). The discharge unit 50A and the relay unit 55A are also configured symmetrically with the discharge unit 50 and the relay unit 55, respectively.

  Similarly, the paper feed unit 40A (paper feed cassette 41A, second paper feed cassette 45A) is configured symmetrically with the paper feed unit 40 (paper feed cassette 41, second paper feed cassette 45). Yes. For this reason, the protruding portion 46A is located on the right side of the apparatus main body 2A, and the finisher device 70A (symmetrical to the finisher device 70) is also located on the right side of the apparatus main body 2A.

  In the present embodiment, the ADF 30 and the in-cylinder discharge space 51A of the discharge unit 50A are arranged on opposite sides of the apparatus main body 2A in the left-right direction (in this example, the ADF 30 is on the left side and the in-cylinder discharge space 51A is on the right side) ). For this reason, since ADF30 will be arrange | positioned on the upper part of the structure part with high rigidity of 2 A of apparatus main bodies, the rigidity of the whole apparatus can be improved. In addition, it is good also as a structure which has arrange | positioned ADF on the right side and in-cylinder discharge space on the left side.

Next, with reference to FIG. 9, a further modification of the second embodiment will be described.
A multifunction device 1C shown in FIG. 9 is a further improvement of the multifunction device 1B shown in FIG. The multifunction machine 1C includes an extended paper discharge tray 37A on the upper portion of the casing 71A of the finisher device 70A. The extended paper discharge tray 37A is adjacent to the paper discharge tray 37 of the ADF 30, and is arranged so as to be continuous therewith. The extended paper discharge tray 37A is arranged so that the inclination of the original document placement surface is the same angle as the inclination of the original document placement surface of the discharge tray 37, and extends the original document placement area of the discharge tray 37. It is configured as follows.

  For example, when an A3-size document is read by the ADF 30, there are cases where the discharged A-size document cannot be accommodated by the discharge tray 37 alone. For this reason, in this embodiment, the upper space of the finisher device 70A is effectively used, and the extended paper discharge tray 37A is provided in this space. As a result, the document placement area is enlarged by the extended sheet discharge tray 37A, so that an A3 size document can be reliably accommodated.

  In this embodiment, the extended paper discharge tray 37A is arranged on the finisher device 70A. However, an extended paper feed tray is further provided so as to enlarge the document placement area of the paper feed tray 31 of the ADF 30. Alternatively, only one of the extended paper discharge tray 37A and the extended paper feed tray may be provided.

1,1A, 1B, 1C Image processing device (multifunction machine)
2, 2A Apparatus main body 3, 3a Recording paper 10 Image reading unit 11a Document reading surface 13 Document reading unit 20 Image recording unit 21 Photosensitive drum 30 Document sending unit 36 Translucent plate 40, 40A Paper feeding unit 41, 41A (first ) Paper feed cassette 43 Manual feed tray 45, 45A (Second) paper feed cassette 46, 46A Protruding portion 50, 50A Discharge part 55, 55A Relay unit 60 Operation part 70, 70A Finisher device A Left-right direction (sub-scanning direction)
B Depth direction (Main scanning direction)

Claims (6)

Scanning main scanning while moving the image scanning unit in the scanning subscanning direction on the document placed on the document scanning surface that defines the maximum document size that can be read by the maximum scanning main scanning length and maximum scanning subscanning length An image reading unit that reads the image of the document by repeating reading of the image of the document in the direction;
A paper feed cassette for storing a plurality of recording papers of a predetermined size in a stacked state;
Image recording for recording the image read by the image reading unit on the recording paper by repeatedly recording the image in the recording main scanning direction while moving the recording paper supplied from the paper feeding cassette in the recording sub-scanning direction. An image processing apparatus comprising:
The reading maximum main scanning length is set longer than the reading maximum sub-scanning length,
The reading main scanning direction is set in parallel with the recording main scanning direction,
The paper feeding cassette records so that the long side of the recording paper is parallel to the recording main scanning direction when the maximum size recording paper that can be accommodated in the paper feeding cassette is supplied to the image recording unit. An image processing apparatus configured to send paper to the image recording unit.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reading main scanning direction and the recording main scanning direction are along a depth direction from a front side to a back side of the image processing apparatus in which a user stands at the time of use.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the maximum document size is the same as a maximum recording sheet size of recording sheets that can be stored in the sheet feeding cassette.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the maximum document size and the maximum recording paper size are A4 sizes.   5. The automatic document feeder according to claim 1, further comprising an automatic document feeder that can transport a document larger than the maximum document size to the image reading unit in a reading sub-scanning direction. Image processing apparatus.   The apparatus further comprises a manual feed tray capable of conveying a recording sheet larger than the recording sheet of the maximum recording sheet size that can be accommodated in the sheet feeding cassette in the recording sub-scanning direction with respect to the image recording unit. The image processing apparatus according to claim 5.

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