JP2014168151A - Image processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To suppress image quality deterioration of a reading image in a device for reading a document sheet and forming the reading image on recording paper.SOLUTION: In a compound machine, recording paper is placed in a lateral direction where a long side becomes parallel to a recording main scanning direction in a recording paper tray, and a document sheet G can be placed in both placing directions of a lateral direction where the long side becomes parallel to a reading main scanning direction and a vertical direction where a short side becomes parallel to the reading main scanning direction in a document stand. When the compound machine detects that the document sheet is placed in the lateral direction (S24: YES), the machine performs processing (S28 to S34) for transporting and reading the document sheet and instructing image formation in an image forming section. When the document sheet is placed in the vertical direction (S24: NO), the machine performs processing (S26) to display that the document sheet is to be placed in the lateral direction on a display section.

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for reading a document sheet and forming a read image on a recording sheet.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an image processing apparatus having a so-called copy function, which has a reading unit and an image forming unit, reads an image of an original sheet by the reading unit, and forms an image on a recording sheet by the image forming unit using the read image that has been read It has been known. In this apparatus, the reading unit reads an original sheet in the main scanning direction (reading main scanning direction) of the reading unit, and the image forming unit forms an image on the recording paper in the main scanning direction (recording main scanning direction). Do.

JP2012-119919A

  In the image processing apparatus, when an image on a document sheet is copied onto a recording sheet, the relationship between the reading main scanning direction in the reading unit and the direction of the long side of the document sheet, the recording main scanning direction in the image forming unit, and the length of the recording sheet It may be a problem whether the relationship with the direction of the side matches. For example, consider a case where the long side of the recording paper is placed in parallel with the main scanning direction in the image forming unit. In this case, when the reading unit is placed so that the long side of the original sheet is parallel to the main scanning direction, the reading unit reads the image of the original sheet along the long side of the original sheet and reads the read image. Using the image, the image forming unit can form an image on the recording paper along the long side of the recording paper.

  On the other hand, if the reading unit is placed so that the short side of the document sheet is parallel to the scanning main scanning direction, after all the scanned images for one document sheet are taken into the recording unit, It has been necessary to execute rotation processing so that the read image read along the short side extends along the long side of the document sheet. Therefore, there has been a problem that the image quality of the read image is deteriorated by the rotation process. Further, until all the read images for one original sheet are taken into the recording unit and the rotation process is executed, the image forming unit cannot perform image formation, resulting in a problem that the time required for copying is prolonged. It was.

  The present specification provides a technique for suppressing deterioration in image quality of a read image in an apparatus that reads a document sheet and forms an image on a recording sheet.

  An image processing apparatus disclosed in this specification includes a recording paper feed tray, an image forming unit that forms an image, a reading unit that reads in a reading main scanning direction, and a long side of a document sheet that is in the reading main scanning direction. A detection unit that detects which direction is parallel or a direction in which the short side of the original sheet is parallel to the main scanning direction of the reading, a display unit, and a control unit; The recording paper feed tray has a recording paper placed in a direction in which a long side is parallel to the main recording scanning direction, and the image forming unit moves from the recording paper feeding tray in the recording sub-scanning direction. An image is formed in the recording main scanning direction on the printed recording paper, the reading unit reads the original sheet relatively moved in the reading sub-scanning direction, and the control unit is configured to read a long side of the original sheet. In a direction parallel to the main scanning direction of reading When it is detected that a document sheet is placed, the recording paper is moved from the paper feed tray in the recording sub-scanning direction, and an image is read in the recording main scanning direction using the read image read by the reading unit. When it is instructed to form, and it is detected that the original sheet is placed in a direction in which the short side of the original sheet is parallel to the main scanning direction, the long side of the original sheet is An instruction process for displaying on the display unit to place the original sheet in a direction parallel to the scanning direction is executed.

  In this image processing apparatus, a recording paper is placed in a direction in which the long side of the recording paper is parallel to the recording main scanning direction in the recording paper feed tray, and an image is formed along the long side of the recording paper in the image forming unit. Done. In this case, when the document sheet is not placed in the reading unit in a direction in which the long side of the document sheet is parallel to the main scanning direction, the document sheet is placed again in the parallel direction. The user is prompted using the display unit. Accordingly, when the user changes the orientation of the document sheet, the image forming unit performs image formation using the read image read along the long side of the document sheet without performing rotation processing. It is possible to suppress the deterioration of the image quality of the read image due to the rotation process. In addition, unlike the case where the rotation process is executed, it is not necessary to form an image after reading all the read images for one original sheet, and compared to the case where the rotation process is executed, the original sheet is read from the recording sheet. It is possible to shorten the time until the image is formed.

  In the image processing apparatus, the reading main scanning direction may be parallel to the recording sub-scanning direction, and the reading sub-scanning direction may be parallel to the recording main scanning direction.

  The user generally tends to place the document sheet and the recording paper with the long sides aligned on the image processing apparatus. Therefore, if the main scanning direction of the reading unit and the image forming unit is not parallel, the long side of the document sheet is placed when the recording paper is placed on the recording paper feed tray so that the long side is parallel to the main recording scanning direction. However, an event that the paper is placed in a direction parallel to the recording main scanning direction, that is, in a direction in which the short side of the original sheet is parallel to the reading main scanning direction is likely to occur. In this image processing apparatus, when it is detected that the short side of the original sheet is placed in a direction parallel to the main scanning direction, the direction of the original sheet is changed by the user using the display unit. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the image quality of the read image from deteriorating.

  The image processing apparatus further includes a supply tray and a first conveyance unit that conveys the document sheet placed on the supply tray along a conveyance path, and the reading unit includes the first conveyance unit. The document sheet conveyed by one conveyance unit may be read at a reading position on the conveyance path.

  According to this image processing apparatus, it is possible to suppress deterioration in the image quality of the read image when the original sheet is conveyed and read.

  The image processing apparatus further includes a light transmissive member on which the original sheet is placed, and a second transport unit that moves the reading unit in the reading sub-scanning direction. The document sheet placed on the light transmitting member may be read while moving in the reading sub-scanning direction.

  According to this image processing apparatus, when the original sheet is placed on the light transmission member and read, it is possible to suppress the deterioration of the image quality of the read image.

  The image processing apparatus further includes a storage unit that stores the read image, and the reading unit is provided for each reading area obtained by dividing the document sheet into a plurality of reading areas in the reading sub-scanning direction. The reading and the image forming unit perform image formation for each image forming region corresponding to each of the reading regions, and the control unit further performs an instruction when image formation is instructed to the image forming unit in the instruction processing. Each time each reading area is read, an image forming process for instructing the image forming unit to form an image in the corresponding image forming area may be executed.

  According to this image processing apparatus, the image forming unit performs image formation every time the reading unit reads each reading area, so that it is possible to shorten the time from reading of a document sheet to image formation on a recording sheet. In addition, the storage unit stores only one read image for several reading areas in consideration of the execution speed difference between one or the reading unit and the image forming unit. Can be suppressed.

  In the above image processing apparatus, the control unit further executes a reception process for receiving an instruction for an operation mode, and executes the instruction process when an instruction for a high-speed mode is received in the reception process. It is also good.

  According to this image processing apparatus, when an original sheet is read and a read image is formed on recording paper, the user can instruct an operation mode. When the high-speed mode is selected, the user is prompted to place the original sheet again if necessary, and the time from reading the original sheet to forming an image on the recording paper is determined according to the user's instruction. It can be shortened.

  The image processing apparatus disclosed in this specification also includes a recording paper feed tray, an image forming unit that forms an image, a reading unit that reads in a reading main scanning direction, and a long side of a document sheet that is the reading main scanning. A detection unit that detects whether the document sheet is placed in a direction parallel to the direction or a direction in which the short side of the document sheet is parallel to the reading main scanning direction, a display unit, and a control unit The recording paper feed tray includes a first size recording paper placed in a direction in which a long side is parallel to the recording main scanning direction, and a short side is parallel to the recording main scanning direction. A recording sheet of a second size placed in a certain direction can be placed, and the image forming unit performs the recording on the recording paper moved in the recording sub-scanning direction from the recording paper feed tray. An image is formed in the recording main scanning direction, and the reading unit is in the reading sub-scanning direction. The control unit reads the document sheet moved in a pair, and the control unit receives the recording paper size and the first size recording paper is set, and the long side of the document sheet is When it is detected that the original sheet is placed in a direction parallel to the main scanning direction, the recording sheet is moved from the paper feed tray in the recording sub-scanning direction, and is read by the reading unit. When a read image is used to instruct to form an image in the recording main scanning direction and the first size recording paper is set, the short side of the original sheet is parallel to the reading main scanning direction. The original sheet is placed in a direction in which the long side of the original sheet is parallel to the main scanning direction when the original sheet is detected to be Display And shows processing may be configured to run.

  In this image processing apparatus, the direction in which the recording paper is placed in the recording paper feed tray is determined according to the size of the recording paper, and the image along either the long side or the short side of the recording paper is determined depending on the size of the recording paper. It is determined whether formation takes place. Then, when the long side of the recording paper is placed in a direction parallel to the recording main scanning direction and image formation is performed along the long side of the recording paper in the image forming unit, the long side of the original sheet in the reading unit When the document sheet is not placed in a direction parallel to the main scanning direction, the display unit is used to prompt the user to reposition the document sheet in the parallel direction. Accordingly, when the user changes the orientation of the document sheet, the image forming unit performs image formation using the read image read along the long side of the document sheet without performing rotation processing. It is possible to suppress the deterioration of the image quality of the read image due to the rotation process. In addition, unlike the case where the rotation process is executed, it is not necessary to form an image after reading all the read images for one original sheet, and compared to the case where the rotation process is executed, the original sheet is read from the recording sheet. It is possible to shorten the time until the image is formed.

  In the image processing apparatus disclosed in this specification, it is possible to suppress deterioration in image quality of a read image in an apparatus that reads an original sheet and forms an image on a recording sheet.

Schematic perspective view of an image processing apparatus Top view showing the internal configuration of the document transport unit and the reading unit Top view showing the internal structure of the main unit Block diagram schematically showing the electrical configuration of the image processing apparatus Flow chart showing copy processing Flow chart showing high-speed copy processing Flow chart showing the first copy process Flow chart showing the second copy process The figure explaining the rotation process of a read image

<Embodiment>
One embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

1. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a multifunction machine 1 that is an example of an image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment. The multifunction device 1 is a multi-functional peripheral device having a so-called copy function, which has a printer function, a scanner function, a facsimile function, and the like, reads an original sheet G, and forms an image of the read image on a recording sheet H. is there.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the multifunction machine 1 is configured by a main unit 2, a reading unit 3, and a document transport unit 4 mounted in this order on the upper side. The main unit 2 includes a recording paper tray 13 and an image forming unit 31, and also includes a central processing unit (hereinafter referred to as CPU) 70 (see FIG. 4) and the like which will be described later. The main unit 2 includes a recording paper transport unit 43 having a function of transporting the recording paper H along the recording paper transport path 35 (see FIG. 3). The recording paper tray 13 is an example of a recording paper feed tray.

  The reading unit 3 covers the entire upper surface of the main unit 2 and includes a reading unit 21 and a platen glass 14 made of a transparent glass plate on the upper surface. Further, the reading unit 3 includes a reading conveyance unit 42 that moves the reading unit 21 in the left-right direction. The platen glass 14 is an example of a light transmission member, and the reading conveyance unit 42 is an example of a second conveyance unit.

  Further, the reading unit 3 includes various setting buttons such as a power switch and a start key, and includes an operation unit 8 that receives an operation command from the user, a display unit that includes an LED and a liquid crystal display, and displays the status of the multifunction device 1. 9 etc. are provided.

  The document transport unit 4 covers the entire upper surface of the reading unit 3 and is configured to be able to open and close the upper surface of the reading unit 3. The document transport unit 4 includes a document transport unit 41 having an automatic document feed function (ADF) that automatically transports a document sheet G along a document transport path 26 (see FIG. 2), an upper surface cover 11, and a document table 12. A document guide 15 and the like are provided. The document transport unit 41 is an example of a first transport unit, and the document table 12 is an example of a supply tray.

  The upper surface cover 11 is provided on the upper surface of the document conveyance unit 4 and is configured to be openable and closable with respect to the document conveyance unit 4 around an axis provided near the right end thereof. When the upper surface cover 11 is displaced to the open position, the upper left portion of the document transport unit 4 is opened. And the discharge tray is comprised by the upper surface cover 11 displaced to the open position. The document transport unit 41 transports the document sheet G placed on the document table 12 along the document transport path 26 and discharges it onto the upper surface cover 11 displaced to the open position.

(Original transport unit and reading unit)
Next, the internal configuration of the document transport unit 4 and the reading unit 3 will be described.
The document transport unit 41 is disposed in the document transport unit 4 and includes various rollers such as a supply roller 24 and a document transport roller 25 as shown in FIG. The various rollers are rotated by a motor M1 (see FIG. 4), and convey the document sheet G placed on the document table 12 to the upper surface cover 11 displaced to the open position. That is, the document transport unit 4 is provided with a document transport path 26 for transporting the document sheet G from the document table 12 to the upper surface cover 11 displaced to the open position by various rollers.

  The reading unit 21 is disposed in the reading unit 3 and is formed so as to spread in the reading main scanning direction D1 parallel to the front-rear direction of the multifunction machine 1. In the reading unit 21, a light source 22 such as a light emitting diode, a light receiving element 23, and the like are linearly arranged in the reading main scanning direction D 1. The document sheet G conveyed in the direction D2 is read in the reading main scanning direction D1 at the reading position L on the document conveying path 26.

  The reading unit 21 is supported by a reading conveyance unit 42 disposed in the reading unit 3 so as to be movable in the reading sub-scanning direction D <b> 2 below the platen glass 14. As shown in FIG. 2, the reading and conveying unit 42 includes a conveying belt 27 and a roller 28 to which a shaft extending from the reading unit 21 is fixed. The roller 28 is rotated by a motor M2 (see FIG. 4), and the conveyance belt 27 is moved in the reading sub-scanning direction D2 by the rotation. The reading unit 21 reads the original sheet G placed stationary on the platen glass 14 while being moved in the reading sub-scanning direction D2 by the reading conveyance unit 42. In the following description, it is assumed that the state and operation of the reading unit 21 stationary at the reading position L are described unless otherwise specified.

  Further, the document transport unit 4 is provided with a document size detection sensor 17, a front sensor (hereinafter referred to as F sensor) 18, and a rear sensor (hereinafter referred to as R sensor) 19. The F sensor 18 is disposed on the document table 12 and is disposed in the vicinity of the center line 50 in the reading main scanning direction D1, and detects whether or not the document sheet G is placed on the document table 12. The document size detection sensor 17 is disposed at the same position as the F sensor 18 in the reading sub-scanning direction D2, and is disposed at a reference distance from the center line 50 in the reading main scanning direction D1.

  Therefore, the document table 12 can detect the orientation of the document sheet G using the document size detection sensor 17. On the document table 12, as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 2, the short side of the document sheet G can be placed sideways parallel to the main scanning direction D1, and the document guide 15 indicated by the arrow 51 Within the movable range, as shown by a solid line in FIG. 2, the long side of the original sheet G can be placed in the vertical direction parallel to the main scanning direction D1. Specifically, the document sheet G can be placed vertically on the document table 12 if the document size is smaller than the A4 document size or letter document size.

  When the document sheet G is placed sideways, the document sheet G faces the document size detection sensor 17, and the document size detection sensor 17 is turned on. On the other hand, when the document sheet G is placed vertically, the document sheet G is not disposed facing the document size detection sensor 17, and the document size detection sensor 17 is turned off. Therefore, the orientation of the original sheet G is detected from the state of the original size detection sensor 17. The document size detection sensor 17 is an example of a detection unit.

  The R sensor 19 is disposed at the detection position Y upstream of the reading position L in the document conveyance path 26 and is disposed in the vicinity of the center line 50 in the reading main scanning direction D1. The R sensor 19 is turned on when the document sheet G passes the detection position Y on the document conveyance path 26 and turned off when the document sheet G does not pass the detection position Y. That is, the R sensor 19 detects the document sheet G passing through the detection position Y on the document transport path 26.

(Main unit)
Next, the internal configuration of the main unit 2 will be described.
As shown in FIG. 3, the recording paper transport unit 43 includes various rollers such as a paper feed roller 36 and a recording paper transport roller 37. The various rollers are rotated by a motor M3 (see FIG. 4), and transport the recording paper H placed on the recording paper tray 13 to the image forming unit 31. That is, the main unit 2 is provided with a recording paper transport path 35 for transporting the recording paper H from the recording paper tray 13 to the image forming unit 31 by various rollers.

  The image forming unit 31 includes a forming head 32 that forms an image on the recording paper H using toner or the like, a conveyance belt 33 to which the forming head 32 is fixed, a roller 34, and the like. The roller 34 is rotated by a motor M4 (see FIG. 4), and the conveyance belt 33 is moved in the recording main scanning direction D3 parallel to the left-right direction of the multifunction machine 1 by the rotation. The image forming unit 31 scans the forming head 32 with respect to the recording sheet H conveyed by the recording sheet conveying unit 43 in the recording sub-scanning direction D4 parallel to the front-rear direction of the multifunction machine 1 as indicated by an arrow 52. While moving in the direction D3, image formation is performed in the recording main scanning direction D3.

  That is, in the MFP 1 of the present embodiment, the recording main scanning direction D3 and the reading sub-scanning direction D2 are set in parallel with each other, and the recording sub-scanning direction D4 and the reading main scanning direction D1 are set in parallel with each other. ing.

  In the recording paper tray 13, the orientation of the recording paper H is determined according to the paper size of the recording paper H. As shown by the solid line in FIG. The long side can be placed sideways in parallel with the recording main scanning direction D3. Further, as indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 3, the recording paper H having the A3 paper size can be placed in the vertical direction in which the short side of the recording paper H is parallel to the recording main scanning direction D3. The A4 paper size is an example of a first size, and the A3 paper size is an example of a second size.

  Therefore, when a recording paper H of A4 paper size is placed on the recording paper tray 13, the long side of the recording paper H is parallel to the main recording scanning direction D3, that is, the direction in which the left and right directions of the multifunction machine 1 are parallel. Placed on. At the same time, as indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 2, the long side of the original sheet G on the original platen 12 is read in a direction parallel to the horizontal direction of the multifunction machine 1, that is, the short side of the recording paper H is read. When placed parallel to the main scanning direction D1, the original sheet G is placed vertically, while the recording paper H is placed horizontally, and the original sheet G and the recording paper H are placed. Does not match.

  If the orientations of the original sheet G and the recording paper H do not match, it is necessary to apply rotation processing to the read image when the original sheet G is read and when the read read image is formed on the recording paper H. For example, a read image obtained by reading the original sheet G along the short side of the original sheet G with the reading unit 21 placed in the vertical direction is placed on the recording paper H with the image forming unit 31 placed sideways. When image formation is performed along the side, it is necessary to rotate the read image along the short side to the read image along the long side.

  Further, a read image obtained by reading the original sheet G along the long side of the original sheet G with the reading unit 21 placed in the horizontal direction is placed on the recording paper H with the image forming unit 31 placed in the vertical direction. When forming an image along the side, it is necessary to rotate the read image along the long side to the read image along the short side. When rotation processing is applied to the read image, the read image quality of the read image is lower than when rotation processing is not performed. For this reason, in the multi-function device 1 according to the present embodiment, when the orientations of the original sheet G and the recording paper H do not match in the copying process described below, the display unit 9 is used to place the original sheet G on the user. It includes processing for instructing to change the orientation.

2. As shown in FIG. 2, the multifunction device 1 includes a CPU 70, an image processing unit 72, a first device control unit 73, an analog front end (hereinafter referred to as AFE) 74, a second device control unit 75, and a ROM 76. , A RAM 77, a first drive circuit 78, a second drive circuit 79, and the like, to which an operation unit 8, a display unit 9, and various sensors 17, 18, and 19 are connected via a bus 80. As indicated by a dotted line 71 in FIG. 10, the one including the CPU 70 and the ROM 76 is an example of a control unit, and the RAM 77 is an example of a storage unit.

  Various programs for controlling the operation of the multifunction device 1 are stored in the ROM 76, and the CPU 70 controls each unit in accordance with the program read from the ROM 76 and executes a copy process described later.

  The first device control unit 73 is connected to the reading unit 21 and transmits a reading control signal to the reading unit 21 based on a command from the CPU 70. The reading unit 21 reads the document sheet G based on a reading control signal from the first device control unit 73.

  The reading unit 21 repeats reading a plurality of times in the reading main scanning direction D1 at the reading position L when reading the document sheet G conveyed through the document conveyance path 26. The reading unit 21 generates a unit read image of the reading region YR shown in FIG. 2 by one reading in the reading main scanning direction D1. The reading unit 21 repeats reading in the reading main scanning direction D1, thereby generating and acquiring a reading image configured by collecting a plurality of unit reading images corresponding to the plurality of reading regions YR in the reading sub-scanning direction D2. The read image is output to the AFE 74.

  The AFE 74 is connected to the reading unit 21 and converts an analog signal read image output from the reading unit 21 into a digital signal, that is, a grayscale data read image, based on a command from the CPU 70. The AFE 74 stores the converted read image in the RAM 77 via the bus 80.

  The image processing unit 72 executes edge extraction processing such as binarization processing and enhancement processing on the read image stored in the RAM 77 based on a command from the CPU 20. Further, the image processing unit 72 performs a rotation process on the read image stored in the RAM 77 when the orientation of the original sheet G and the recording paper H does not match and when a command from the CPU 20 is received. Run.

  The second device control unit 75 is connected to the image forming unit 31, and transmits an image formation control signal to the reading unit 21 based on a command from the CPU 70. The image forming unit 31 forms an image on the recording paper H based on the image formation control signal from the second device control unit 75.

When the image forming unit 31 forms an image on the recording paper H transported through the recording paper transport path 35,
Image formation is repeated a plurality of times in the recording main scanning direction D3. Then, when the original sheet G is read and image formation of the read image on the recording paper H is performed, image formation is repeated in the recording main scanning direction D3 each time a unit read image is generated. The image forming unit 31 forms an image in the image forming region GR (see FIG. 3) corresponding to the unit read image in one image formation in the recording main scanning direction D3.

  The first drive circuit 78 is connected to the motors M1 and M2, respectively, and rotationally drives the motors M1 and M2 based on the pulse signal input from the CPU. The second drive circuit 79 is connected to the motors M3 and M4, respectively, and rotationally drives the motors M3 and M4 based on the pulse signal input from the CPU 70. The motors M1 to M4 are driven to rotate by one rotation angle with one pulse of the pulse signal. When the motor M1 is driven by one step, the various rollers constituting the document transport unit 41 rotate by a predetermined angle, and the document sheet G is transported on the document transport path 26 by a first specified distance.

  Similarly, when the motor M2 is driven by one step, the roller 28 constituting the reading and conveying unit 42 rotates by a predetermined angle, and the reading unit 21 is moved in the reading sub-scanning direction D2 by the second specified distance. When the motor M3 is driven by one step, the various rollers constituting the recording paper transport unit 43 rotate by a predetermined angle, and the recording paper H is transported on the recording paper transport path 35 by a third specified distance. When the motor M4 is driven by one step, the roller 34 constituting the image forming unit 31 rotates by a predetermined angle, and the forming head 32 is moved by the fourth specified distance in the recording main scanning direction D3. Hereinafter, the number of pulses of the pulse signal that the CPU 70 transmits to the motors M1 to M4 is referred to as a step number SP.

3. Next, a copy process for reading the original sheet G and forming an image of the read image on the recording paper H will be described with reference to FIGS. In the present embodiment, based on an instruction from the user, the document sheet G placed on the document table 12 is read automatically while being automatically conveyed along the document conveyance path 26 using the document conveyance unit 41. A copy process when so-called ADF reading is executed will be described.

  As illustrated in FIG. 5, when a copy instruction is input from the user via the operation unit 8, the CPU 70 starts a copy process. The CPU 70 accepts an instruction for operation settings such as the original size of the original sheet G, the paper size of the recording paper H, and the operation mode such as the high speed mode and the high quality mode, which are input together with the copy instruction (S2). In this embodiment, the paper size of the recording paper H is set to A4 paper size, and the recording paper H of A4 paper size is placed sideways on the recording paper tray 13.

  Next, the CPU 70 confirms the accepted operation setting (S4, S6). When the document size of the document sheet G is set to A4 size or letter size and the operation mode is set to the high speed mode (S4: YES, S6: YES), the CPU 70 displays the display unit 9 Is used to display to the user that the original sheet G is to be placed sideways, and high-speed copy processing is executed (S10).

(High-speed copy processing)
As shown in FIG. 6, in the high speed copy process, the CPU 70 first waits for the user to press the start key (S22: NO). When the user places a document sheet G on the document table 12 and presses the start key (S22: YES), the CPU 70 checks the state of the document size detection sensor 17 (S24). When the document size detection sensor 17 is off (S24: NO), the CPU 70 detects that the document sheet G is placed vertically on the document table 12. In this case, since the placement directions of the original sheet G and the recording paper H do not coincide with each other, the CPU 70 causes the display unit 9 to display an error for placing the original sheet G on the original table 12 sideways. (S26), and the processing from S22 is repeated.

  On the other hand, when the document size detection sensor 17 is on (S24: YES), the original CPU 70 detects that the document sheet G is placed sideways on the document table 12. In this case, since the orientations of the original sheet G and the recording paper H match, reading of the original sheet G and image formation on the recording paper H are started.

  First, the CPU 70 instructs the document transport unit 41 to transport the document sheet G, and starts transporting the document sheet G (S28). After the conveyance of the original sheet G is started, the CPU 70 waits for the R sensor 19 to be turned on. When the R sensor 19 is turned on, the CPU 70 further conveys the original sheet G, the first step number SP1 corresponding to the distance between the detection position Y and the reading position L along the original conveyance path 26, and the reading unit 21. Is instructed to read the original sheet G (S30). Accordingly, the reading unit 21 performs reading in the reading main scanning direction D <b> 1, and the unit reading image is stored in the RAM 77.

  When the unit read image is stored in the RAM 77, the CPU 70 instructs the recording paper transport unit 43 to transport the recording paper H (S32), and causes the image forming unit 31 to form an image on the recording paper H. (S34). That is, the image forming unit 31 starts image formation on the recording paper H while the reading unit 21 reads the document sheet G. As a result, the image forming unit 31 uses the unit read image stored in the RAM 77 to form an image in the image forming region GR corresponding to the unit read image.

  Thereafter, the CPU 70 repeats reading of the original sheet G and image formation on the recording paper H, and instructs to form an image in the corresponding image forming region GR every time the unit read image is read.

  In addition, after the reading of the original sheet G is started, the CPU 70 monitors the completion of the reading of the original sheet G using the R sensor 19, and while the reading of the original sheet G continues (S36: NO). The processing from S30 is repeated. Then, when the R sensor 19 is turned off and the first step number SP1 and the original sheet G are conveyed, the CPU 70 reads the original sheet G to the reading unit 21 in order to end the reading of the original sheet G. The end is instructed (S36: YES).

  Note that the image formation on the recording paper H is completed when the storage of the unit read image in the RAM 77 is completed as the reading of the original sheet G is completed. Further, the conveyance of the recording paper H is finished after the recording paper H is further conveyed by a certain distance after the image formation on the recording paper H is completed.

  Next, the CPU 70 checks the state of the F sensor 18 (S38). When the F sensor 18 is on and the unread document sheet G remains on the document table 12 (S38: YES), the CPU 70 repeats the processing from S30 on the next document sheet G. On the other hand, when the F sensor 18 is off and no unread document sheet G remains on the document table 12 (S38: NO), the document conveyance unit 41 is instructed to end conveyance of the document sheet G (S40). ), The high-speed copy process and the copy process are terminated.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5, when the document size of the document sheet G is neither A4 size nor letter size (S4: NO), the CPU 70 determines that the document size of the document sheet G is A4 size or If the letter mode is set but the operation mode is not set to the high speed mode (S4: YES, S6: NO), the system waits for the user to press the start key (S12: NO).

  When the start key is pressed (S12: YES), the CPU 70 checks the state of the document size detection sensor 17 (S14). When the document size detection sensor 17 is on (S24: NO), the CPU 70 executes the first copy process (S16). On the other hand, when the document size detection sensor 17 is off (S24: YES), the second copy process is executed (S18).

(First copy process)
When the first copy process is executed, the document size detection sensor 17 is turned on, and the document sheet G placed on the document table 12 has a relatively wide width in the reading main scanning direction D1. Therefore, when the original sheet G is read and image formation is performed on the recording paper H placed horizontally on the recording paper tray 13, it is not necessary to perform rotation processing on the read image.

  As shown in FIG. 7, in the first copy process, the CPU 70 executes each process of S52 to S64. Each process of S52 to S64 of the first copy process is equal to the process of S28 to S40 of the high speed copy process shown in FIG. When completing the first copy process, the CPU 70 ends the copy process.

(Second copy process)
Next, the second copy process will be described. When the second copy process is executed, the document size detection sensor 17 is turned off, and the document sheet G placed on the document table 12 has a relatively narrow width in the reading main scanning direction D1. Therefore, when the original sheet G is read and image formation is performed on the recording paper H placed horizontally on the recording paper tray 13, it is necessary to execute rotation processing on the read image.

  As shown in FIG. 8, in the second copy process, the CPU 70 first instructs the document transport unit 41 to transport the document sheet G, and starts transporting the document sheet G (S72). When the R sensor 19 is turned on and the first step number SP1 and the original sheet G are conveyed, the CPU 70 instructs the reading unit 21 to read the original sheet G (S74).

  The CPU 70 does not instruct the image forming unit 31 to form an image after starting the reading of the document sheet G until the reading of the document sheet G is completed (S76: NO), that is, reading of one document sheet G. The processing from S74 is repeated until the image is stored in the RAM 77. Then, when the read image of the original sheet G is stored in the RAM 77, that is, when the R sensor 19 is turned off and the first step number SP1 and the original sheet G are conveyed, the CPU 70 instructs the reading unit 21. The end of reading of the original sheet G is instructed (S76: YES).

  Next, the CPU 70 uses the image processing unit 72 to execute a rotation process on the read image stored in the RAM 77 (S78). Specifically, as shown in the upper part of FIG. 9, the middle part of FIG. 9 shows a read image formed by collecting a plurality of unit read images read in the main reading scanning direction D1 in the reading sub-scanning direction D2. As described above, the image is rotated 90 degrees so that the reading main scanning direction D1 and the reading sub-scanning direction D2 are interchanged. Further, as shown in the lower part of FIG. 9, the frame of the unit read image is changed.

  As a result, pixel data that are arranged in the reading sub-scanning direction D2 before the rotation process and belong to different unit reading images are converted into one unit reading arranged in the reading main scanning direction D1 after the rotation process. Construct an image. The read image is configured by collecting a plurality of unit read images in the reading sub-scanning direction D2.

  When the rotation process is completed, the CPU 70 instructs the recording paper transport unit 43 to transport the recording paper H (S80), and instructs the image forming unit 31 to form an image on the recording paper H (S82). ). Thereby, the image forming unit 31 performs image formation using the plurality of unit read images generated in the rotation process in order in the reading sub-scanning direction D2.

  Next, the CPU 70 checks the state of the F sensor 18 (S84). When the F sensor 18 is on and the unread document sheet G remains on the document table 12 (S84: YES), the CPU 70 repeats the processing from S74 on the next document sheet G. On the other hand, if the F sensor 18 is off and no unread document sheet G remains on the document table 12 (S84: NO), the document conveyance unit 41 is instructed to end conveyance of the document sheet G (S86). ), The second copy process and the copy process are terminated.

4). Advantages of the present embodiment (1) In the multifunction device 1 of the present embodiment, the recording paper H is placed sideways on the recording paper tray 13, and the image forming unit 31 forms an image along the long side of the recording paper H. Is called. In this situation, in the high-speed copy process, the original size detection sensor 17 is used to check the orientation of the original sheet G on the original table 12, and when the original sheet G is placed vertically, the original sheet The display unit 9 is used to prompt the user to reposition G horizontally. Accordingly, when the user changes the orientation of the original sheet G to the horizontal direction, the reading unit 21 uses the read image read along the long side of the original sheet G without executing the rotation process. The image forming unit 31 can form an image along the long side of the recording paper H. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the image quality of the read image from being deteriorated due to the rotation process.

(2) Moreover, the following effect can be acquired by not performing rotation processing. That is, when the rotation process is executed, all the read images for one original sheet G are read, and the image formation can be performed only after the rotation process is executed, and the original sheet G is read to the recording paper H. The time until image formation becomes longer.

  In the MFP 1 according to the present embodiment, since rotation processing is not executed in the above case, image formation on the recording paper H can be started while the reading unit 21 reads the original sheet G. Specifically, every time the reading unit 21 reads each reading area YR, an image can be formed in the image forming area GR corresponding to the unit reading image. As a result, the time from reading the original sheet G to forming an image on the recording paper H can be shortened as compared with the case where the rotation process is executed.

(3) Particularly, in the multi-function device 1 of the present embodiment, the recording main scanning direction D3 and the reading sub-scanning direction D2 are set in parallel to each other, and the recording sub-scanning direction D4 and the reading main scanning direction D1 are parallel to each other. Is set to For this reason, the user places the document sheet G so that the long sides of the document sheet G and the recording paper H are aligned with respect to the multifunction machine 1, that is, the event that the user places the document sheet G vertically on the document table 12. However, the main scanning direction D3 and the reading main scanning direction D1 are set in parallel with each other, and the recording sub-scanning direction D4 and the reading sub-scanning direction D2 are set in parallel with each other. Cheap. In this image processing apparatus, when it is detected in the high-speed copying process that the original sheet G is placed vertically, the original sheet G is placed horizontally on the user using the display unit 9. Since the user is prompted to correct it, it is possible to suppress the deterioration of the image quality of the read image.

(4) In the MFP 1 of the present embodiment, operation setting is instructed by the user in response to input of a copy instruction, and an operation mode is instructed in the operation setting. When the high-speed mode is selected as the operation mode, the multi-function device 1 can execute a high-speed copy process, and prompts the user to place the original sheet G again as necessary. As a result, the time from reading the original sheet G to forming an image on the recording paper H can be shortened in accordance with a user's operation setting instruction.

<Other embodiments>
The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described with reference to the above description and the drawings, and for example, the following various aspects are also included in the technical scope of the present invention.
(1) In the above embodiment, the description has been given using the multifunction device 1 having a printer function, a scanner function, a copy function, a facsimile function, etc., but the present invention is not limited to this, and an image having at least a copy function. It may be a processing device.

(2) In the above-described embodiment, the multifunction device 1 has one CPU 70, and an example in which various processes such as a conveyance reading process are executed by the one CPU 70 has been described. Not limited. For example, if each unit may be configured by a plurality of CPUs, each unit may be configured only by a hardware circuit such as an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit). Furthermore, each part may be comprised by one or several CPU and ASIC.

(3) Further, the program executed by the CPU 70 does not necessarily have to be stored in the ROM 76, and may be stored in the CPU 70 itself or in another storage device.

(4) In the above embodiment, the example in which the document sheet G is ADF-readed in the copy process has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, this is applied when so-called FB reading is performed in which the reading unit 21 reads the document sheet G placed stationary on the platen glass 14 while the reading unit 21 moves in the reading sub-scanning direction D2. May be.

(5) In this case, the CPU 70 performs prescanning that is simple reading for detecting the size and orientation of the original sheet G before reading the original sheet G placed on the platen glass 14. Execute. When executing the FB reading, the CPU 70 detects whether the document sheet G is placed vertically or horizontally based on the result of the prescan instead of the document size detection sensor 17. Can do.

(6) In the above embodiment, the A4 paper size recording paper H can be placed horizontally on the recording paper tray 13, and the A3 paper size recording paper H can be placed vertically. Although an example has been described, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the recording paper tray 13 may be set so that the recording paper H of all paper sizes is placed sideways. In this case, it is not necessary to accept the paper size of the recording paper H in the operation setting.

(7) In the above embodiment, an example has been described in which processing for prompting the user to place the original sheet G again when the high-speed mode is selected in the operation setting has been described. Not limited. For example, regardless of the operation settings, if the orientation of the original sheet G and the recording paper H does not match, the user may be prompted to place the original sheet G again. Thus, the CPU 70 does not need to perform rotation processing on the read image when the original sheet G is read and image formation is performed on the recording paper H using the read image that has been read. Therefore, since the read image for one original sheet G is not stored in the RAM 77, the capacity required for the RAM 77 can be suppressed.

(8) In the above embodiment, the recording main scanning direction D3 and the reading sub-scanning direction D2 are set parallel to each other with respect to the recording paper tray 13, and the recording sub-scanning direction D4 and the reading main scanning direction D1 are mutually set. Although the example set parallel to the above has been described, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, if the recording main scanning direction D3 and the reading main scanning direction D1 are set parallel to each other, and the recording sub scanning direction D4 and the reading sub scanning direction D2 may be set parallel to each other, the recording main scanning is performed. The direction D3 (recording sub-scanning direction D4) may not be set parallel or perpendicular to either the reading main scanning direction D1 or the reading sub-scanning direction D2.

(9) In the above embodiment, an example is described in which a process for prompting the user to place the original sheet G again is performed in the copy process when the recording paper H is placed horizontally on the recording paper tray 13. Although done, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, in the copy process when the recording paper H is placed vertically on the recording paper tray 13, a process for prompting the user to place the original sheet G again may be executed.

  In this case, when the CPU 70 detects that the document sheet G is placed sideways on the document table 12 using the document size detection sensor 17, the placement direction of the document sheet G and the recording paper H matches. Since this is not the case, the display unit 9 may be instructed to display an error for placing the document sheet G in the portrait orientation on the document table 12.

1: MFP 2: Main unit, 3: Reading unit, 4: Document conveying unit, 12: Document table, 13: Recording paper tray, 17: Document size detection sensor, 21: Reading unit, 26: Document conveying path, 31: Image forming section, 35: Recording paper transport path, 41: Document transport section, 42: Reading transport section, 43: Recording paper transport section, D1: Reading main scanning direction, D2: Reading sub scanning direction, D3: Recording main Scanning direction, D4: recording sub-scanning direction, G: document sheet, H: recording paper

Claims (7)

A recording paper feed tray,
An image forming unit for forming an image;
A reading unit for reading in the reading main scanning direction;
Detecting whether the long side of the original sheet is placed in a direction parallel to the reading main scanning direction or the short side of the original sheet is set in a direction parallel to the reading main scanning direction A detection unit;
A display unit;
A control unit;
With
The recording paper feed tray has the recording paper placed in a direction in which the long side is parallel to the recording main scanning direction,
The image forming unit forms an image in the recording main scanning direction on the recording paper moved in the recording sub-scanning direction from the recording paper feed tray;
The reading unit reads the document sheet relatively moved in the reading sub-scanning direction;
The controller is
When it is detected that the original sheet is placed in a direction in which the long side of the original sheet is parallel to the reading main scanning direction, the recording paper is moved from the paper feed tray in the recording sub-scanning direction. Instructing to form an image in the recording main scanning direction using the read image read by the reading unit;
When it is detected that the original sheet is placed in a direction in which the short side of the original sheet is parallel to the reading main scanning direction, the long side of the original sheet is parallel to the reading main scanning direction. Instruction processing to display on the display unit to place the original sheet on
An image processing apparatus that executes The image processing apparatus according to claim 1,
The image processing apparatus, wherein the reading main scanning direction is parallel to the recording sub-scanning direction, and the reading sub-scanning direction is parallel to the recording main scanning direction. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,
Furthermore,
A supply tray;
A first transport unit that transports the document sheet placed on the supply tray along a transport path;
With
The image processing apparatus, wherein the reading unit reads the document sheet conveyed by the first conveying unit at a reading position on the conveyance path. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,
Furthermore,
A light transmissive member on which the original sheet is placed;
A second transport unit that moves the reading unit in the reading sub-scanning direction;
With
The image processing apparatus, wherein the reading unit reads the document sheet placed on the light transmitting member while moving in the reading sub-scanning direction. An image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein
Furthermore,
A storage unit for storing the read image;
With
The reading unit reads the document sheet for each reading area divided into a plurality of reading areas in the reading sub-scanning direction,
The image forming unit performs image formation for each image forming area corresponding to each reading area,
The controller is
Furthermore,
An image forming process for instructing the image forming unit to form an image in the corresponding image forming area every time the reading area is read when the image forming unit is instructed to form an image in the instruction process;
An image processing apparatus that executes An image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The controller is
Furthermore,
Acceptance process to accept operation mode instructions,
Run
An image processing apparatus that executes the instruction process when an instruction of a high-speed mode is received in the reception process. A recording paper feed tray,
An image forming unit for forming an image;
A reading unit for reading in the reading main scanning direction;
Detecting whether the long side of the original sheet is placed in a direction parallel to the reading main scanning direction or the short side of the original sheet is set in a direction parallel to the reading main scanning direction A detection unit;
A display unit;
A control unit;
With
The recording paper feed tray is placed in a direction in which the long side is placed in a direction parallel to the recording main scanning direction, and the short side is placed in a direction parallel to the recording main scanning direction. The second size recording paper can be placed,
The image forming unit forms an image in the recording main scanning direction on the recording paper moved in the recording sub-scanning direction from the recording paper feed tray;
The reading unit reads the document sheet relatively moved in the reading sub-scanning direction;
The controller is
A reception process for receiving the size of the recording paper;
When the first size recording paper is set and it is detected that the original sheet is placed in a direction in which the long side of the original sheet is parallel to the main scanning direction of reading, Moving the recording paper from the paper feed tray in the recording sub-scanning direction and instructing image formation in the recording main scanning direction using the read image read by the reading unit;
When the first size recording paper is set, and it is detected that the original sheet is placed in a direction in which the short side of the original sheet is parallel to the main scanning direction of reading, An instruction process for causing the display unit to display the document sheet so that the long side of the document sheet is placed in a direction parallel to the reading main scanning direction;
An image processing apparatus that executes

Images