JP2021147194A - Image reading device and image formation apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

To enable sheets being sort objects to be sorted in accordance with a layout of a blank region by using a sorting function of an image formation apparatus.SOLUTION: An image reading device comprises: an image reading sensor 171 which reads an image of a sort sheet conveyed in a conveyance path; a determination unit 102 which determines a layout of a blank region existing in the sort sheet on the basis of the image of the sort sheet obtained by reading by the image reading sensor 171; and a control unit 100 which controls the operation of a sorting mechanism 77 on the basis of the layout of the blank region existing in the sort sheet determined by the determination unit 102 and discharges the sort sheet to any of the plurality of discharge trays.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

The present invention relates to an image reading device and an image forming device, and more particularly to a technique for sorting paper.

Some image forming devices such as copiers and multifunction devices have a sorting function (sorting function) for sorting the paper on which an image is formed by the number of copies or by the page. Further, Patent Document 1 below describes that the paper stored in the paper feed cassette is sorted according to the characters printed on the paper by using the sorting function.

U.S. Pat. No. 10237431

Even if an image is formed on paper, if there is a blank area of a certain size, that part can be reused for, for example, a memo pad. For example, even if an image is formed on the upper half of the paper, if the lower half is completely blank, the lower half can be reused as a memo pad. Further, even if an image is formed on the front surface of the paper, if the back surface is completely blank, the back surface can be reused for printing or copying. In this way, how to reuse the paper depends on the layout of the blank area.

Therefore, in order to effectively reuse the paper, it is important to sort the paper according to the layout of the blank area, but it is very troublesome for the user to visually perform this. The above-mentioned Patent Document 1 describes that the paper is sorted according to the printed characters, but does not propose a technique for sorting the paper according to the layout of the blank area.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to make it possible to sort paper to be sorted according to the layout of a blank area.

The image reading device according to one aspect of the present invention includes a paper feed unit that accommodates paper and feeds the paper, a discharge port from which the paper is discharged, and the paper feed unit toward the discharge port. A transport unit that transports paper through a transport path, a plurality of discharge trays on which the paper discharged from the discharge port is loaded, and the paper discharged from the discharge port are sorted into one of the plurality of discharge trays. Based on the sorting mechanism, the sensor that reads the image of the sorting paper conveyed by the conveying unit, and the image of the sorting paper obtained by reading by the sensor, the layout of the blank area existing in the sorting paper is determined. The operation of the sorting mechanism is controlled according to the layout of the determination unit and the blank area existing in the sorting paper determined by the determination unit, and the sorting paper is placed in one of the plurality of discharge trays. It is provided with a control unit for sorting and discharging.

According to the present invention, it is possible to sort the paper to be sorted according to the layout of the blank area.

It is a typical partial cross-sectional front view which shows the structure of the image forming apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a functional block diagram which shows schematic the main internal structure of the image forming apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the operation screen displayed on the display part. It is a figure which shows an example of the operation screen displayed on the display part. (A) to (C) are diagrams showing a list of items in the pull-down menu. (A) or (B) is a figure for demonstrating the layout of the blank area existing in the sorting paper. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the processing performed by the control unit in the image forming apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment. (A) or (B) is a figure for demonstrating the layout of the blank area existing in the sorting paper. It is a functional block diagram which shows schematic the main internal structure of the image forming apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment.

Hereinafter, the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the image reading apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic partial cross-sectional front view showing the structure of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The image forming apparatus 1 is a multifunction device having a plurality of functions such as a copy function, a printer function, a scanner function, a facsimile function, and a paper sorting function. Further, the image forming apparatus 1 includes an operation unit 47, a document feeding unit 6, a document reading unit 5, an image forming unit 12, a fixing unit 13, a paper feeding unit 14, and a post-processing device 70 in the apparatus main body 11. It is configured.

The operation unit 47 receives instructions such as an image formation operation execution instruction from the operator for various operations and processes that can be executed by the image forming apparatus 1. The operation unit 47 includes a display unit 473 that displays operation guidance and the like to the operator. Further, the operation unit 47 receives an input of an instruction from the user based on an operation (touch operation) by the user on the operation screen displayed on the display unit 473 via the touch panel of the display unit 473.

The display unit 473 is composed of an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or the like. The display unit 473 includes a touch panel. When the operator touches a button or key displayed on the screen, the touch panel receives an instruction associated with the touched position.

The document feeding section 6 is configured to be openable and closable on the upper surface of the document reading section 5 by a hinge or the like (not shown), and the document feeding section 6 is a document holding cover when reading a document placed on the platen glass 161. Functions as. Further, the document feeding unit 6 is an ADF (Auto Document Feeder), includes a document loading tray 61 on which documents are placed, and supplies the documents placed on the document loading tray 61 to the document reading unit 5. do.

A case where the document reading operation is performed by the image forming apparatus 1 will be described. The document reading unit 5 optically reads the image of the document supplied to the document reading unit 5 by the document feeding unit 6 or the document placed on the platen glass 161. The image read by the document reading unit 5 is stored in an image memory or the like (not shown).

The document reading unit 5 has a light source, a reflection mirror, and the like, irradiates the document with the light source under the control of the control unit 10 (FIG. 2) described later, and emits the reflected light with a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) sensor. The image is read from the original by receiving light.

A case where the image forming operation is performed by the image forming apparatus 1 will be described. The image forming unit 12 is fed from the paper feeding unit 14 and conveyed based on the image read by the document reading operation, the image stored in the image memory, the image received from the computer connected to the network, and the like. A toner image is formed on paper P (printing paper P1) as a recording medium conveyed by the road 190.

The image forming unit 12 includes a photoconductor drum 121 for black, yellow, cyan, and magenta, and the photoconductor drum 121 is rotationally driven counterclockwise in the drawing. The transfer unit 120 includes an intermediate transfer belt 125, a driving roller 125A, a driven roller 125B, and a primary transfer roller 126 on which a toner image is transferred on the outer peripheral surface thereof.

The intermediate transfer belt 125 is stretched between the drive roller 125A and the driven roller 125B, and is driven by the drive roller 125A in a state of being in contact with the peripheral surface of the photoconductor drum 121, while synchronizing with the photoconductor drum 121. Run endlessly.

The toner images of each color (black, yellow, cyan, magenta) transferred on the intermediate transfer belt 125 are superposed on the intermediate transfer belt 125 by adjusting the transfer timing to obtain a color toner image.

The secondary transfer roller 210 transfers a color toner image formed on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 125 to a paper feeding unit 14 at a nip portion N (image forming position) with the drive roller 125A sandwiching the intermediate transfer belt 125. The transfer path 190 is transferred to the transferred printing paper P1.

After that, the printing paper P1 is heated and pressurized by the fixing portion 13, the toner image on the printing paper P1 is fixed by thermocompression bonding, and the printing paper P1 is further passed through the first discharge roller pair 160 to the first discharge port 111. Is discharged to the discharge tray 151. That is, the image-forming processed printing paper P1 is loaded on the discharge tray 151. Further, when the first discharge roller pair 160 sends out the printing paper P1 and the sorting paper P2 described later to the aftertreatment device 70, the printing paper P1 and the sorting paper P2 are niped in the printing paper P1 and the sorting paper P2. By switching back P2, the printing paper P1 and the sorting paper P2 are carried into the aftertreatment device 70 from the second discharge port 112 through the second discharge roller pair 162.

The paper feed unit 14 includes a plurality of paper feed cassettes 141A to 141C (hereinafter, also simply referred to as “paper feed cassette 141”). A pickup roller 142 is provided above the paper feed cassette 141, and the paper P (printing paper P1 or sorting paper P2) housed in the paper feed cassette 141 is fed out toward the transport path 190 by the pickup roller 142. The paper P conveyed by the transfer path 190 is conveyed to the transfer nip portion N by the transfer roller pair 191.

The paper feed unit cassette 141 accommodates printing paper P1 to be image-formed by the user or sorting paper P2 to be sorted (for example, paper on which characters and the like have been printed). Further, a paper feed sensor 143 for detecting the paper P fed from the paper feed cassette 141 is provided on the downstream side of the pickup roller 142 in the transport direction of the paper P. The paper feed sensor 143 comprises, for example, a known reflective photoelectric sensor including a light emitting element and a light receiving element for detecting the reflected light of the light emitted from the light emitting element from the paper P, and the front end and the rear of the paper P. Detect the edge.

Next, a case where double-sided printing is performed by the image forming apparatus 1 will be described. After the printing paper P1 on which the image is formed on one surface by the image forming unit 12 is sandwiched between the first ejection roller pair 160, the printing paper P1 is switched back by the first ejection roller pair 160 and inverted. The paper P is fed to the path 192, transported upstream in the transport direction of the paper P, merged with the transport path 190, and then transported again to the transfer nip portion N from there. As a result, an image can be formed on the other side of the printing paper P1. The first discharge roller pair 160 is an example of a reversing mechanism within the scope of claims.

Image reading that reads the image of the sorting paper P2 that is conveyed along the transfer path 190 on both sides of the transfer path 190 on the downstream side in the transfer direction of the paper P from the confluence position of the reversal path 192 and the transfer path 190. A sensor 171 is provided. One image reading sensor 171 reads an image on the front surface of the sorting paper P2, and the other image reading sensor 171 reads an image on the back side of the sorting paper P2. These image reading sensors 171 output the image of the sorting paper P2 obtained by reading to the control unit 10 (FIG. 2). As the image reading sensor 171, for example, CIS (Contact Image Scanner) can be mentioned. The image reading sensor 171 is an example of a sensor in the claims.

The post-processing device 70 as a sorting device is provided on the main body 71 and the main body 71 so as to face the second discharge port 112 of the device main body 11, and the second discharge roller pair 162 makes the device main body 11 second. 2 A carry-in port 72 for carrying in the paper P (printing paper P1 or sorting paper P2) sent out from the discharge port 112, a discharge port 73 for discharging the paper P carried in from the carry-in port 72, and the discharge port. A plurality of, for example, 10 discharge trays TR1 to TR10 (hereinafter, also simply referred to as “discharge tray TR”) on which the paper P discharged from the 73 is loaded are provided. The discharge trays TR1 to TR10 are attached to different positions in the vertical direction at predetermined intervals from each other.

Further, in the main body 71 of the aftertreatment device 70, a transport roller pair 74 provided near the carry-in inlet 72 and a discharge roller pair 75 provided near the discharge port 73 are provided, and the main body is provided. In the section 71, the paper P is transported by the transport roller pair 74 and the discharge roller pair 75 through the transport path 76 connecting the carry-in port 72 and the discharge port 73.

Further, the aftertreatment device 70 includes a sorting mechanism 77 that sorts the paper P discharged from the discharge port 73 into any of the discharge trays TR1 to TR10. The sorting mechanism 77 includes a support member 78 that supports the plurality of discharge trays TR so as to be movable in the vertical direction, and a motor 79 that moves the plurality of discharge trays TR in the vertical direction. Then, the aftertreatment device 70 discharges the paper P to one of the discharge trays TR under the control of the control unit 10 and sorts the paper P.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram schematically showing a main internal configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment. The image forming apparatus 1 includes a control unit 10, a document feeding unit 6, a document reading unit 5, an image forming unit 12, a storage unit 8, a fixing unit 13, a paper feeding unit 14, a paper feeding sensor 143, an image reading sensor 171 and an operation. It is configured to include a unit 47, a transport unit 19, and an aftertreatment device 70. The same components as those of the image forming apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted here.

The storage unit 8 is an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), an SSD (Solid State Drive), or the like, and stores various control programs. The transport unit 19 includes a transport path 190, a transport roller pair 191 and an inversion path 192, a first discharge roller pair 160, and a second discharge roller pair 162.

The control unit 10 includes a processor, a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), and a dedicated hardware circuit. The processor is, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), an MPU (Micro Processing Unit), or the like. The control unit 10 includes a control unit 100, a display control unit 101, and a determination unit 102.

The control unit 10 functions as a control unit 100, a display control unit 101, and a determination unit 102 by the operation of the processor according to the control program stored in the storage unit 8. However, the control unit 100 and the like can be configured by hardware circuits, regardless of the operation according to the control program by the control unit 10. Hereinafter, the same applies to each embodiment unless otherwise specified.

The control unit 100 controls the overall operation of the image forming apparatus 1. The control unit 100 includes a document feeding unit 6, a document reading unit 5, an image forming unit 12, a storage unit 8, a fixing unit 13, a paper feeding unit 14, a paper feeding sensor 143, an image reading sensor 171 and an operation unit 47, and a conveying unit. It is connected to 19 and the aftertreatment device 70, and controls the drive of each of these parts. For example, the control unit 100 forms an image on the printing paper P1 housed in the paper feed cassette 141 by controlling the paper feed unit 14, the transport unit 19, the image forming unit 12, the fixing unit 13, and the like.

The display control unit 101 controls the display of the display unit 473. For example, the display control unit 101 displays the operation screen G1 as shown in FIG. 3 on the display unit 473. On the operation screen G1, selection buttons B1 to B5 marked with "copy", "print", "FAX (facsimile)", "send", and "paper sorting" are formed as selectable items. ..

On the operation screen G1 displayed on the display unit 473, when the operation unit 47 receives a user operation on the selection button B5 marked "paper sorting", the display control unit 101 receives the sorting paper as shown in FIG. The operation screen G2 for setting the sorting conditions of P2 is displayed on the display unit 473.

On the operation screen G2, a pull-down menu PM1 for designating the discharge destination (discharge tray TR) of the sorting paper P2 and a pull-down menu for designating the classification of the sorting paper P2 to be discharged to the discharge destination specified by the pull-down menu PM1. A menu PM2, a pull-down menu PM3 for designating a paper feed cassette 141 for storing the sorting paper P2 to be sorted, a selection button B6 marked "setting", and a selection button marked "start". B7 and are formed.

FIG. 5A is a diagram showing a list of items in the pull-down menu PM1. As shown in FIG. 5A, it is possible to specify any of the “1st discharge tray” to “10th discharge tray” from the pull-down menu PM1. The "first discharge tray 1" to "tenth discharge tray" correspond to the discharge trays TR1 to TR10, respectively.

FIG. 5B is a diagram showing a list of items in the pull-down menu PM2. As shown in FIG. 5 (B), the pull-down menu PM2 has nine categories. "Category 4" indicates "the front surface is blank 25% (the front surface is 25% blank area)", and "Category 7" is "the front surface is blank 0% & the back surface is blank 50% (blank on the front surface)". There is no area, but the back side is 50% blank area) ”.

In the operation screen G2 shown in FIG. 4, for example, in a state where the "first discharge tray" is specified in the pull-down menu PM1 and the "category 4" is specified in the pull-down menu PM2, the operation unit 47 is set to "setting". Upon receiving the user operation for the described selection button B6, the control unit 100 registers the "category 4" in the storage unit 8 in association with the "first discharge tray" as one of the sorting conditions. When the sorting conditions are registered by the control unit 100, the display control unit 101 displays the contents registered by the control unit 100 on the operation screen G2 as "setting contents".

FIG. 5C is a diagram showing a list of items in the pull-down menu PM3. As shown in FIG. 5C, it is possible to specify any of the paper feed cassettes 141 of the "first paper feed cassette" to the "third paper feed cassette" from the pull-down menu PM3. The "first paper feed cassette" to "third paper feed cassette" correspond to the paper feed trays 141A to 141C, respectively.

Further, when the operation unit 47 receives the user operation for the selection button B7 marked "start" on the operation screen G2, the control unit 100 or the like causes the image forming apparatus 1 to use the paper feed cassette designated by the pull-down menu PM3. The sorting process for the paper P (sorting paper P2) stored in 141 is started.

The determination unit 102 determines the layout of the blank area existing on the sorting paper based on the image of the sorting paper P2 obtained by reading by the image reading sensor 171. The determination unit 102 determines that the determination target area is a blank area when there are no colored pixels in the determination target area in the image of the sorting paper P2. For example, the determination unit 102 determines that the pixel value is a predetermined value (for example, in the case of a color 256 value or a gray scale 256 value, a density value of 5% with respect to the maximum density, and in the case of a monochrome binary value, 0 (black). When the pixel of the value)) or more is present, the determination target area is not determined to be a blank area, and when the pixel does not exist, it is determined to be a blank area. Further, the determination unit 102 may determine, for example, the determination target area as a blank area when the number of the pixels is less than a certain number (5% of the total number of pixels constituting the determination area). good.

For example, the determination unit 102 divides the images on both sides of the sorting paper P2 into four areas vertically and horizontally, and if one of the four areas is blank, the sorting paper P2 has "25% blank area". If 2 areas are blank, the sorting sheet P2 determines that "50% is a blank area", and if 3 areas are blank, "75% is a blank area". If all four areas are blank, the sorting sheet P2 determines that "all are blank areas".

Regarding the blank area of the sorting paper P2, for example, when the sorting paper P2 is divided into four areas (areas A1 to A4) vertically and horizontally, one of the four areas is shown in FIG. 6 (A). If the area is blank, the determination unit 102 determines that "25% of the total is a blank area", and as shown in FIG. 6B, if 3 of the 4 areas are blank, The determination unit 102 determines that "75% of the total is a blank area".

The determination unit 102 determines that a portion where an image having a density equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold value TH is not formed is blank. Therefore, even if there is a portion where an image such as characters is formed on the sorting paper P2, the determination unit 102 determines that portion if the density of the image (for example, the average density of all the images in the target area) is low. It is determined that "blank (the image is not formed)". For example, even if characters are formed in the area A4 shown in FIG. 6A, if the average density of all the images in the area A4 is not equal to or higher than the threshold value TH, the determination unit 102 sets the area A4 as a blank area. Judge that there is.

The control unit 100 controls the operation of the sorting mechanism 77 based on the layout of the blank area existing in the sorting paper P2 determined by the determination unit 102, and discharges the sorting paper P2 to any of the plurality of discharge trays TR. ..

For example, when "Category 7" is registered in association with the "second discharge tray" as a sorting condition, the determination unit 102 states that "there is no blank area on the front surface, but the blank area on the back surface is 50 in total. If it is determined to be "%", the sorting paper P2 corresponds to "Category 7", so that the control unit 100 discharges the sorting paper P2 to the discharge tray TR2 corresponding to the "second discharge tray". In addition, the operation of the sorting mechanism 77 is controlled.

Next, an example of the processing performed by the control unit 10 in the image forming apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. This process is started by the control unit 100 or the like when the selection button B7 marked "start" is operated by the user on the operation screen G2 shown in FIG. 4 and the operation unit 47 accepts the operation. NS.

First, the control unit 100 controls the operation of the pickup roller 142 corresponding to the paper feed cassette 141 designated on the operation screen G2, and conveys the sorting paper P2 contained in the paper feed cassette 141 to the transport path 190. (S1). That is, the user can store the sorting paper P2 to be sorted in the paper feed cassette 141, which is a premise for performing the sorting process on the sorting paper P2.

The control unit 100 determines whether or not the sorting paper P2 is housed in the paper feed cassette 141 based on the signal from the paper feed sensor 143 (S2). If the tip of the sorting paper P2 cannot be detected even after a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of feeding the sorting paper P2, the control unit 100 sends the sorting paper P2 to the paper feed cassette 141. Judge that it is not contained.

When the control unit 100 determines that the sorting paper P2 is housed in the paper feed cassette 141 (YES in S2), the determination unit 102 is based on the image of the sorting paper P2 obtained by reading by the image reading sensor 171. Then, the layout of the blank area existing on the sorting sheet P2 is determined (S3).

The control unit 100 controls the operation of the sorting mechanism 77 based on the layout of the blank area existing in the sorting paper P2 determined by the determination unit 102, and discharges the sorting paper P2 to any of the plurality of discharge trays TR. (S4). After this, the process returns to S1.

In S2, when the control unit 100 determines that the sorting paper P2 is not contained in the paper feed cassette 141 (NO in S2), the sorting of all the sorting paper P2 contained in the paper feed cassette 141 is completed. This process ends because it has been done.

According to the above embodiment, by accommodating the sorting paper P2 to be sorted in the paper feed cassette 141 designated by the user, the sorting paper P2 is sorted according to the layout of the blank area existing in the sorting paper P2. Is possible.

In the above embodiment, in order to read the images on both the front and back sides of the sorting paper P2, the image reading sensors 171 are arranged on both sides along the transport path 190 (that is, two image reading sensors 171 are arranged). ), But as another embodiment, the sorting paper P2 is transported to the transport path 190 again by using the reversal path 192, and the images on both the front and back sides are read by only one image reading sensor 171. You may do so. Thereby, the device can be simplified.

Further, as yet another embodiment, the determination unit 102 divides the sorting sheet P2 into a plurality of predetermined areas, determines whether or not both sides are blank for each divided area, and is blank on both sides. The control unit 100 controls the operation of the sorting mechanism 77 based on the layout of the area on the sorting paper P2 determined by the determination unit 102, which is blank on both sides, to determine the layout of the area. Paper P2 may be ejected to any of a plurality of ejection trays TR.

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the layout of the blank area existing on the sorting sheet P2. As shown in FIG. 8A, regarding the surface of the sorting paper P2, the upper half (areas A1 and A2) is not blank, and the lower half (areas A3 and A4) is blank. As shown in FIG. 8B, regarding the back surface of the sorting paper P2, the left half (areas A5 and A7) is not blank, and the right half (areas A6 and A8) is blank.

That is, the portion of the area A3 is also blank on the back surface (area A8), but since either of the front and back surfaces of the regions A1, A2, and A4 is not blank, the determination unit 102 "is blank on both sides. A certain area is 25% of the whole. " As a result, for example, when the classification of "the area where both sides are blank is 25% of the total" is set for the "first discharge tray" as the sorting condition, the sorting paper P2 shown in FIG. 8 becomes " It is discharged to the discharge tray TR1 corresponding to the "first discharge tray".

Although the case of reading both sides of the sorting paper P2 has been described so far, only one side of the sorting paper P2 is read instead of both sides, and the sorting paper P2 is sorted according to the layout of the blank area existing on one side. You may do it.

FIG. 9 is a functional block diagram schematically showing a main internal configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment. The image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment is different from the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 2 in that the control unit 10 includes a setting unit 103.

The setting unit 103 sets the threshold value TH used by the determination unit 102 for determining a blank. For example, the setting unit 103 is formed on the setting sheet P3 based on the image of the setting sheet P3 for setting the threshold value TH, which is conveyed along the transport path 190 and obtained by reading by the image reading sensor 171. Set the density of the existing image to the threshold TH.

For example, immediately after the start of the sorting process, the paper P transported by the transport unit 190 is treated as the setting paper P3, and the setting unit 103 analyzes the image obtained by reading by the image reading sensor 171 and is formed on the setting paper P3. The density of the image is calculated, and the density is set to the threshold value TH. The user may put the setting paper P3 on the sorting paper P2, store the sorting paper P2 together with the setting paper P3 in the paper feed cassette 141, and then start the sorting process.

The setting sheet P3 for setting the threshold TH is not read by the image reading sensor 171 (for example, CIS), but is placed on the document placing tray 61 or the platen glass 161 to be placed on the document reading unit 5 (for example, CIS). , CCD), but the accuracy of threshold setting may decrease due to the difference in sensors, so it is better to have the setting paper P3 read the image with the same sensor as the sorting paper P2. .. For example, the setting unit 103 sets the density of the image obtained by reading by the image reading sensor 171 (for example, CIS) used for reading the undetermined image by the determination unit 102 to the threshold value TH, and the determination unit 102 sets the density to the threshold value TH. The density of the image obtained by scanning by the document scanning unit 5 (for example, CCD) that is not used for scanning the image used for undetermination is not set to the threshold value TH. Further, the setting paper P3 is preferably discharged to an empty discharge tray TR or discharge tray 151 in order to distinguish it from the sorting paper P2.

Further, as another embodiment, the setting unit 103 determines whether or not a predetermined special image (for example, a character string or a symbol) is formed on the paper P to be conveyed by the conveying unit 190 during the sorting process. When it is determined that the special image is formed, the paper P on which the special image is formed is set to the setting paper P3 instead of the sorting paper P2, and the image obtained by reading the paper P is used. The concentration may be set to the threshold TH. This makes it possible to change the threshold value TH during the sorting process. For the detection of the special image, for example, the OCR (Optical Character Recognition) function may be used.

The present invention is not limited to the configuration of the above embodiment, and various modifications are possible. Further, in the above-described embodiment, a multifunction device is used as an embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, but this is only an example, and has, for example, a copy function, a printer function, and a facsimile function. Other image forming apparatus may be used.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the configuration and processing shown by the above-described embodiment with reference to FIGS. 1 to 9 are merely one embodiment of the present invention, and the present invention is not intended to be limited to the configuration and processing.

1 Image forming device 12 Image forming unit 77 Sorting mechanism 100 Control unit 101 Display control unit 102 Judgment unit 103 Setting unit 14 Paper feeding unit 171 Image reading sensor 190 Transport path 192 Reverse path TR Discharge tray

Claims (8)

A paper feed unit that stores paper and feeds the paper,
The discharge port from which the paper is discharged and
A transport unit that transports the paper from the paper feed unit to the discharge port by a transport path, and a transport unit.
A plurality of discharge trays on which the paper discharged from the discharge port is loaded, and
A sorting mechanism that sorts the paper discharged from the discharge port into any of the plurality of discharge trays, and
A sensor that reads an image of the sorting paper transported by the transport unit,
A determination unit that determines the layout of a blank area existing on the sorting paper based on the image of the sorting paper obtained by reading by the sensor, and a determination unit.
Control that controls the operation of the sorting mechanism according to the layout of the blank area existing in the sorting paper determined by the determination unit, and sorts and discharges the sorting paper into any of the plurality of discharge trays. An image reading device including a unit. The determination unit divides the image of the sorting paper into a plurality of predetermined areas, determines whether or not each of the divided areas is blank, and based on the result of whether or not each area is blank. The image reading device according to claim 1, wherein the layout of a blank area existing on the sorting paper is determined. The determination unit divides the image of the sorting paper into two in the vertical and horizontal directions, divides the image into four areas, determines whether or not each area is blank, and based on the result of whether or not the image is blank in each area. The image reading device according to claim 2, wherein the layout of a blank area existing on the sorting paper is determined. The sensor reads images on both sides of the sorting paper and reads them.
The determination unit determines the layout of the blank area existing on the sorting paper on both sides of the sorting paper.
The control unit controls the operation of the sorting mechanism based on the layout of both sides of the blank area existing in the sorting paper determined by the determination unit, and puts the sorting paper in one of the plurality of discharge trays. The image reading device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the image reading device is to be discharged. The sensor reads images on both sides of the sorting paper and reads them.
The determination unit divides the images on both sides of the sorting paper into a plurality of predetermined areas, determines whether or not both sides are blank for each divided area, and layouts the areas where both sides are blank. Judging,
The control unit controls the operation of the sorting mechanism based on the layout of the area where both sides are blank, which exists in the sorting paper determined by the determination unit, and transfers the sorting paper to the plurality of discharge trays. The image reading device according to claim 1, wherein the image reading device is discharged to any one of them. The image reading device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the determination unit determines that a region in which an image having a density equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold value is not formed is blank. A setting for setting the density of the image formed on the setting paper to the threshold value based on the image of the setting paper for setting the threshold value, which is conveyed by the transport unit and obtained by reading by the sensor. With more parts
The image reading device according to claim 6, wherein the determination unit makes the determination based on the threshold value set by the setting unit. The image reading device according to claim 4 or 5.
An image forming unit that forms an image on the paper fed by the paper feeding unit, and an image forming unit.
An inversion mechanism that inverts the front and back of the paper on which an image is formed by the image forming portion,
Further provided with an inversion path for merging the paper whose front and back sides are inverted with the transfer path on the upstream side in the paper transfer direction from the image forming position by the image forming unit.
The sensor is an image forming apparatus arranged on the downstream side in the paper transport direction from the confluence position of the reversal path and the transport path.

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