JP2505747B2 - Image forming device - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an apparatus for forming a document image on a recording material.

[Prior art]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is known an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, which detects a document size and controls a copying operation according to the detected size. As a method of detecting the document size, there is a method of detecting the size of the document placed on the platen glass.

Conventionally, most of the methods for detecting the original size on the original glass have only a function of discriminating only a limited standard size. Therefore, it is impossible for the apparatus to judge an irregular size, an error in the position of the original set, and the like only with such a function.

On the other hand, a method of detecting a document size with higher accuracy using a CCD or the like is being put into practical use in some cases. According to this method, an irregular size or the like can be detected, but conversely, the detection of the regular size of the paper size may not always match the regular value due to a slight installation error, CCD measurement error, or the like.

Therefore, in the case of AMS (automatic magnification selection) in which the copy magnification is determined from the original size and the copy material size and the copying operation is performed according to this copy magnification, even if the same cassette is selected due to the slight error, the copy magnification remains There is a problem that it will not reach 100%.

(Object) The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and provides an image forming apparatus that has a simple configuration and prevents inconvenience due to measurement error when determining the size of a sheet and improves usability. The purpose is.

That is, the present invention is directed to measuring means for measuring the vertical length and the horizontal length of a document without representing the standard size, and the vertical and horizontal lengths and plural lengths measured by the measuring means. Comparing means for comparing the vertical length and the horizontal length of the standard size of the above, and the first mode for determining the size of the document based on the comparison result of the comparing means and the comparison by the comparing means. The mode setting means for manually selecting one of the second mode to be determined and the first mode by the mode setting means.
Mode is set, if the length of the document measured by the measuring means is different from one of the plurality of standard sizes within a predetermined value, the document size is determined as the standard size, and the measuring means If the measured length of the original is different from any of the standard sizes by more than a predetermined value, the original size is determined as the measured value by the measuring means, while the original size is selected when the second mode is selected. Is determined as the measurement value by the measuring means, and the image forming magnification of the document is automatically determined based on the document size as the standard size determined by the document size determining means or the document size as the measurement value. An image forming apparatus having a determining unit for determining a magnification.

〔Example〕

 1 to 11 show an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a top view of the operation unit unit, and the function of each key will be described step by step.

100a to 100e have function keys, which are arbitrarily set by the respective keys of the operation unit. It is a memory and call key for the copy mode, and can store up to 5 modes. That is, it is possible to store the mode that the user uses everyday, or to store the unique magnification used by each user, or the area designation area described later,
The desired copy mode can be set immediately by pressing one key. In this copying machine, the memory is always held by the backup power supply.

101 to 110 are numeric keys, in addition to the normal number setting function,
It has a function of inputting various data in various asterisk modes in combination with the asterisk key.

Reference numeral 111 is a clear key for clearing the set number of sheets or data, and 112 is a reset key for returning the set mode to a predetermined standard mode, for returning to the normal copy mode. Reference numeral 113 is a residual heat key, and 114 is an asterisk key for shifting to various asterisk modes.
Reference numeral 115 is a copy stop key, 16 is a color key for selecting a plurality of developing devices built in the main body apparatus, and when the color developing device is selected, the built-in LED 150 lights including a warning meaning .

Reference numeral 151 is a copy start key, which is displayed at the edge when the copy is possible (except during copying), and in other cases, the red LED 151 lights up. An AE key 119 selects an AE mode capable of obtaining a copy having an appropriate density by detecting the original density and correcting the developing bias. The display 152 lights up when the AE mode is selected. Reference numerals 118 and 120 are manual density adjustment keys, and a desired density can be obtained by updating the density level with the keys 118 and 120.
If you press the key 118, the density will become higher (darker), and press the key 1
When 20 is pressed, the density becomes lower (lighter), and the density level of the display 153 changes accordingly.

Reference numerals 152 and 153 are display groups showing concentration conditions. Reference numeral 154 is a 7-segment display for displaying the number of copies.

Reference numeral 121 is a cassette selection key, which is used when manually selecting a cassette stage. This device also has an Auto Paper Select (ASP) function. Reference numeral 155 is a display group indicating the stage selected by the cassette selection key 121 or the APS mode.

122 is a fixed enlargement magnification selection key, 123 is a fixed reduction magnification selection key, and 124 is an automatic magnification selection (Auto Magunificati
on Select: AMS) key, which has the function of automatically selecting the proper magnification from the detected document size and selected cassette size. The display 158 lights up when the AMS mode is selected. Reference numeral 125 denotes a zoom key, which makes it possible to adjust the magnification in 1% steps by using the + key and the-key. 126 is a 1x key, which sets the copy magnification to 1x (1
00%). In the 1: 1 mode, display 15
7 lights up.

156 is a dot-matrix type fluorescent display tube, which normally displays the set copy magnification, selected cassette size, copy mode, etc., so that complicated operations can be performed in the event of equipment malfunction or user operation error. It also functions as a message display for procedures.

Reference numeral 127 is a copy selection key for automatically copying two single-sided originals onto both sides of one sheet by using the intermediate tray of the main unit [single-sided → double-sided], and 128 is an automatic circulation type document feeder (RDF) 129 is a copy selection key for copying two-sided originals onto one side of two sheets of paper [two-sided → single-sided].
Is a copy selection key for copying a double-sided original onto both sides of a sheet of paper using the intermediate tray and RDF, and [130] is a copy selection key, and 130 is an intermediate tray for overlapping two or more images on one sheet This is a multiple copy selection key for performing multiple copy.

When any one of the keys 127 to 130 is pressed, one of the indicators 159 to 162 lights up correspondingly.

131 is a page continuous shooting selection key, and it is possible to obtain two copies (referred to as A copy and B copy) by exposing and scanning the original on the original plate in two divided left and right in one operation. And select the mode.

Reference numeral 132 denotes a page continuous shooting multiplex copy selection key, which has a function of multiplex copying A copy and B copy in the page continuous shooting mode described above.

133 is a page continuous copying double-sided copy selection key, which has a function of copying the above-mentioned A copy and B copy on the front and back sides of the same sheet by using the intermediate tray. Reference numeral 134 denotes a frame erasing key having a function of erasing the shadow generated at the edge of the book or the center of the spread in the page continuous shooting mode.

135 is an image shift key, which can shift the image in either the left or right direction. The shift amount can be adjusted by pressing the numeric keypad while pressing this key. Also, this shift amount can be memorized by a function key of 100a-e.

An area designation key 136 also serves as a release key for the area designation key area. In addition, two modes can be selected for area designation: document priority (the size of the designated area is variable depending on the scaling ratio) and cassette priority (the size of the designated area is constant regardless of the scaling ratio). Reference numeral 137 denotes an X / Y key, which is a data input key when inputting an area with the ten keys.

Reference numeral 138 denotes an in / out key, which is a selection key for developing the inside or the outside of the designated area.

A correction key 139 is a data recall key when the set area value is called and corrected.

Reference numeral 140 denotes a key for automatically switching the inside / outside (in / out) of the area in the multiplex copy and the development color. When the mode is selected in the multiplex copy, the A copy and the B copy are automatically performed. In / out, color can be switched.

141 is a color automatic switching key in continuous page shooting,
It has a function of automatically switching the development color at the time of A copy and B copy, and when the key 141 is pressed, the display 170 is turned on.

The LEDs 157 to 171 are a selection mode display group indicating that each mode is selected. Reference numerals 172 to 174 are display portions showing the number of set areas, and in the copying apparatus, up to 3 areas can be set. Reference numerals 175 and 176 are display portions showing the inside / outside, and the mode set by the key 138 lights up. The value of the set area of the 177 LED group is Xmin, X
It is an indicator showing which of max, Ymin and Ymax. 1
Reference numeral 42 denotes a CCD area designation key. By pressing this switch, the optical system starts scanning and only performs the function of recognizing the area drawn on the original.

143 and 144 are sort keys and collate keys, respectively. Reference numerals 178 and 179 are display devices for displaying the sort and collate modes, respectively.

 FIG. 2 is a basic block diagram showing the structure of the display unit.

The CPU 201 is a microcomputer that controls each display unit, controls the display element, and the display content is based on the instruction (communication) data of the main body CPU.

206 is a 5 × 7 dot 40 character fluorescent display tube.
7bit × 5byte data is required to compose 1 character, CPU
In accordance with the instruction of 201, 35-bit data is sequentially read from the charactor generator 203 and transferred to the shift register / latch / driver 204, and the shift register / latch / driver 204 latches 5 bytes, that is, 35-bit data. After that, shift register latch driver
From 205, a digit signal for deciding the timing of displaying one character is driven to display one character. In this way, the characters are lit dynamically and the duty ratio is 1/49.
Weak (because of blanking time).

In addition, 208 is the other LED MATRIX of the display unit, which is driven by dynamic lighting.

In the above structure, when the copy start key is pressed, the optical system performs full scanning, and the CCD detects the original position size of the original placed on the original glass platen.

However, the size detected here includes the measurement error due to the CCD, the error due to the installation position defect by the user, and the size error due to the oblique placement. Therefore, if it is below a certain tolerance, it is easier to use the standardized one. For example, although the original and the paper of the same size are selected, the optimum magnification may not reach 100% due to the above error.

However, it is meaningless to determine that the paper is the closest to the unpleasant paper when performing the stylization here, and therefore the standard is to use only the registered paper size. That is, if it is not within the range of the registered paper size ± x, it is regarded as an atypical size, and the detected size is directly treated as the document size. On the contrary, if it is determined that the size is the standard size, the standard size is used as the document size instead of the detection size.

On the other hand, when the document size detecting means uses a feeder other than this, a method of detecting the original size by counting the time for passing through the feeder path may be considered. Since this method has many errors, size detection is limited to a certain fixed size. That is, atypical size is forcibly sized.

However, according to this method, since the prescan for size detection is not necessary, the copy speed can be improved.

Therefore, when copying non-standard size paper through the feeder, the detection means should be registered as "CCD input" in order to expect size detection by CCD instead of size detection by the feeder. If the document size is detected in this way, AM
If S is selected, the vertical and horizontal magnifications of the original and the selected paper size are calculated, and the smaller one is automatically selected as the optimum magnification, so that an image without image loss can be obtained.

If APS is selected, the document size is multiplied by the selection magnification, the minimum registered cassette size including the image size is determined to be the optimum APS size, and the size is selected from the mounted cassettes.

After the magnification paper size is determined in this way, the copying operation is started.

 FIG. 3 shows the flow of determining these document sizes.

It is determined whether the start key is pressed and the document is set on the feeder (). If it is set in the feeder, pull in the original and measure the original size. However, if the user has already specified CCD detection here, it does not depend on this measurement value (,).

Also, when not set on the feeder, it is regarded as a normal platen mode copy and the original size is measured more accurately by the CCD by prescan. () Subsequently, the already registered paper sizes are loaded in ascending order, and it is determined whether or not there is a document measured within an error value (called Δx, Δy) in each of vertical and horizontal directions (). If both the vertical and horizontal values are within a certain error, it is regarded as a standard size (registered size), and the standard value is represented by giving priority to the measured value (). That is, the difference between the measured value and the measured value is taken as a measurement error. However, in reality, it is not uncommon for them to be intentionally shifted or to use atypical sizes. Therefore, it is sometimes preferable not to perform the series of standardized processing. Therefore, it is determined whether there is any designation.

Here, the user designation used in the determination of is based on the data stored in the RAM, which the user designates in the advance operation unit by the software SW (described later).

 Next, the registration of the selection branch of APS will be described in detail.

The main registration can be done by software SW on the operation unit in the asterisk mode for service.

First, the service switch (not on the operation unit) is pressed to enter the preparatory stage, and thereafter, only the keys on the operation unit can be used for control.

This mode is a mode that can be changed by pressing the keys in the order of "*", "n", "*" (n is a numeric keypad of 0 to 9), and is called an asterisk mode. You can switch to a mode different from that for users by pressing the switch for service, and this state can be canceled by reset key, auto clear, power on / off, etc.

The registration of the previous APS is one of the mode switch groups, and "* 5
You can switch with "*". You can easily check the current mode by message or display.

Further, the zoom keys are used to select from the mode switch group. That is, the zoom key leaves the original function of increasing / decreasing the magnification and, in the asterisk mode, performs the function of selecting a mode switch (just like turning a page).

At this time, "MS-8 APS Toruoku A3- → 1" * "" is displayed on the display.

At this time, 1 is displayed if ASP is registered, and 0 if not registered. That is, the above display shows that A3 is registered. If the "*" key is input in this state, the value becomes 0 and registration is not made. After that, the state is inverted by inputting "*". Further, when the cassette selection key is input, the paper size is changed, and it becomes possible to confirm and update the current registration / non-registration state.

In this way, by pressing the cassette key, the existing cassette codes can be sequentially called and registered or unregistered, respectively.

Also, since the APS registration branch is stored in RAM, it cannot be said that all are unregistered or registered when the CPU is initialized (when the memory is cleared), so it is AB series for Japan / Europe and inch series for North America. As a standard, memory is set to be in.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart regarding registration of the universal cassette. In the asterisk mode for service, the VS (abbreviation of universal small) registration mode is called by the key on the operation unit ().

 At this time, the message part has the following display.

“US cassette toroku (0: free, 1: cottage)-→ φ” In other words, φ is registered, that is, it becomes an arbitrary mode and is registered as a normal universal.

At this time, if "1" is input, fixed mode () is selected, if "φ" is input, arbitrary mode () is selected, and if "*" is input, registration is completed ().

At this time, if the registration is "0" (arbitrary), the U-S cassette thereafter functions as a free-size cassette ().

If it is registered as "1" (fixed), then enter the horizontal size using the numeric keypad (). Enter "*" for size data
Complete with input ().

 However, if the data is out of range, it will not be registered ().

Similarly, the vertical size is input and registered to complete the registration of the VS cassette ().

The universal cassette whose size is registered in this way can be handled like a normal cassette unlike the conventional one.

If you press the "R" key in the middle of these setting modes, the series of asterisk modes will be canceled and the normal mode will be restored ().

Subsequently, FIG. 5 is a flow of determining the APS selection branch. Similar to the previous time, call APS selective branch registration mode in asterisk mode (). Here, the APS selection branch is a cassette size that can be an optimum cassette for performing APS, and whether or not to register each existing cassette size as a selection branch is input. That is, in Japan
The standard is to register the A and B series cassette sizes, and the standard for North America is to register the inch series cassette sizes. Changes to these standards are made in this mode. That is, in the European region, if the B series is not used, the size of the B series cassette is deregistered to prevent it from being selected, and both cassettes are registered for the user who uses both inch and AB series. or,
As mentioned before, if you register the size of the U cassette, it can be the target of APS, so you should register it.

 The flow will be described below step by step.

Initially, the cassette code (CST-ON) is set to 1 (), and the display at this time is as follows.

“APS Torooku (0: Free, 1: Touroku) A3− → 1” In other words, A3 is registered as a selective branch of APS. If the "*" key is input in this state, φ and 1 are reversed, and registration and non-registration are alternated (,).

If you press the cassette key, the cassette code (CS
T-NO) is incremented and the next cassette size and registration status are displayed (,).

Similarly, registration or non-registration can be designated for all cassettes.

FIG. 6 shows an internal processing flow for rearranging the APS registered cassette sizes described in the previous page in ascending order. Inside the cassettes registered in APS, the cassette codes are rearranged vertically and horizontally in ascending order.

The idea of the flow shown is to determine whether or not all existing cassette sizes are registered in ascending order, and to arrange them. However, since universal cassettes differ depending on the user, they are inserted for comparison throughout the flow ().

If each is registered, the cassette code is registered in the address indicated by APS-STACK (), and the address is incremented by one ().

By repeating these steps, the cassette code is registered in the ascending order from the initial address. 00 at the end
It is assumed that the CPU recognizes the tail end by storing as ().

It is assumed that these cassette data strings are rearranged for vertically and horizontally two types.

 FIG. 7 is the APS decision flow.

The determined document size (see FIG. 3) is multiplied by the designated magnification to calculate the image length (). At this point, if the size exceeds the maximum paper frame, an error is warned (,).

Next, it is determined whether the image length is portrait or landscape (), and the images are compared with the length of the registered cassette size one after another according to the order in which they are already arranged (,). When the cassette size length exceeds the image length for the first time, the cassette size becomes the optimum cassette (,).

When the optimum cassette is determined in this manner, it is next determined whether or not the cassette is attached (). If it is installed, select the cassette and complete APS (). Otherwise, a warning will be displayed ().

FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing RAM clearing at the time of CPU reset, and FIG. 8-2 is a RAM structure diagram.

The data RAM of this copying apparatus is always stored by the backup battery. Therefore, it is necessary to grasp the current situation at the time of CPU reset and properly initialize the RAM.

In the RAM configuration shown in Fig. 8-2, the A zone is the part that is always stored, and stores various high-voltage output data, APS selection standard mode described in the previous page, function mode, soft SW data such as document size standardization, etc. Is the part that is
The B zone is a portion to be cleared (initialized) at every other reset time.

 Description will be given according to the flow of FIG. 8-1.

When the CPU starts up (91), it is judged whether the keywords in the A zone are equal to the regular keywords (92).
Since it is possible that this is the first time to start up, or RAM data is destroyed, all data (A zone, B zone) is initialized (97, 98) and keywords are stored (9
6).

On the other hand, if they are equal to each other, the always stored data is left as it is and the process proceeds to the following.

At (93), it is determined whether or not the current time is JAM (using data RAM). After this, in the case of JAM, the data such as the sequence up to that time is necessary for JAM correction, and therefore the initialization of the B zone following (94) is not performed. Otherwise, the regular B zone initialization (94) is performed.

At this time, for some software SWs such as the size detection selection switch (CCD is a feeder), the most commonly used one is used as a standard for data initialization.

Also, the copy mode indicated on the operation unit is converted to the standard mode (95). In this copying machine, the standard mode can also be registered arbitrarily, so this mode is loaded from the RAM A zone.

Also, when the R key is pressed during operation (standby), this (95) is executed.

 FIG. 9 is a standard mode registration flow.

Calling the standard mode registration mode in asterisk mode (101) At this time, the message display section displays “Initial Torooku“ * ”in de-memory sim” (120).

If the "*" key is pressed in this state, the currently displayed mode is registered as the standard mode (105).
At this time, when it is not APS, the size of the mounted cassette is also stored at the same time as the selection stage.

When the "R" key is pressed, the asterisk mode is canceled (104) (106).

 FIG. 10 is a flow chart of the cassette priority registration mode.

Call the cassette priority selection mode in asterisk mode (111).

At this time, it is displayed in the display section as "Cassette Yusen 0: Size, 1; Step)-→ 0", and it is understood that the current size has priority (= φ) (112). If 1 is entered here (115), the paper feed tray is given priority (116), and if 0 is entered (113), cassette size is given priority (114). Pressed to complete registration (118).

When the "R" key is pressed, the asterisk mode is canceled (119,120).

FIG. 11 is a call flow in standard mode. Main SW
The mode that is set (called) at the time of inputting, when canceling the preheat mode, when pressing the reset key, etc., and basically the mode registered in the standard mode is called (13
1).

When APS is used here, APS is selected as it is (133)
However, the following judgments are necessary at the time of manual operation.

First, determine whether the priority is cassette size or column (13
4) If size priority is given, then it is determined whether the registered cassette size is installed (136). If it is attached, the corresponding column is selected (137), and if it is not attached, the column on which the registered cassette is attached at the time of registration is selected (135).

On the other hand, if the tray priority is originally registered, the paper feed tray is selected regardless of the size (135).

〔effect〕

As described above, according to the present invention, the vertical length and the horizontal length of the original are measured without being represented by a standard size, and the measuring means and the vertical length measured by the measuring means are measured. The comparing means for comparing the horizontal length with the vertical length and the horizontal length of a plurality of standard sizes, and the first mode for determining the size of the document based on the comparison result of the comparing means and the comparing means. When the first mode is set by the mode setting means for manually selecting one of the second mode to be decided without performing the comparison and the first mode is set by the mode setting means, the length of the document measured by the measuring means is set. If the difference is within a predetermined value from one of the plurality of standard sizes, the document size is determined as the standard size, and the length of the document measured by the measuring means is larger than the predetermined value with any standard size. If so, Is determined as the measurement value by the measuring means, while the document size is determined by the document size determining means and the document size determining means for determining the document size as the measurement value by the measuring means when the second mode is selected. A non-standard size document close to the standard size by automatically determining the image forming magnification of the document based on the standard size as the standard size or the document size as a measurement value. It is possible to select in advance whether to treat as the size or the non-standard size, and it is also possible to prevent the standard size document from being determined as the non-standard size document due to the placement error of the document, measurement error, or the like.

Further, regardless of whether the document size is determined as the standard size or the measurement value, the image forming magnification corresponding to the document size can be automatically determined, so that the usability of the apparatus can be improved with a simple configuration.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a top view of the operating unit of the copying apparatus, FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the operating unit, FIG. 3 is a document determination flow chart, FIG. 4 is a universal cassette registration flow chart, and FIG. The figure shows the registration flow chart of the APS selection branch,
Fig. 6 shows an internal processing flow chart that rearranges the coats according to the size of the cassette size registered in APS.
Figure 7 shows the APS (automatic paper selection) decision flow chart,
FIG. 8-1 is a flow chart for initializing the data RAM, FIG. 8-2 is a conceptual diagram of the configuration of the data RAM, FIG. 9 is a standard mode registration flow chart, and FIG. 10 is a cassette priority registration mode flow chart. , FIG. 11 is a standard mode call flow chart. Reference numeral 156 is a donut tomato-type fluorescent display tube, 151 is a start key, and 201 is a CPU for managing the display system.

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Naoyuki Oki 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (56) References JP 62-93137 (JP, A) JP 62 -49344 (JP, A) JP-A 60-263934 (JP, A) JP-A 61-42668 (JP, A) JP-A 62-175330 (JP, A) JP-A 62-167144 (JP, A) ) JP-A-58-187921 (JP, A) Jitsukai Sho 62-49150 (JP, U) JP-B 6-25651 (JP, B2) JP-B 6-52447 (JP, B2) JP-B 6- 58562 (JP, B2) Japanese Patent Publication 5-15273 (JP, B2)

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A measuring unit for measuring the vertical length and the horizontal length of an original without representing the standard size, and a vertical length and a horizontal length measured by the measuring unit and a plurality of lengths. A comparison means for comparing the vertical length and the horizontal length of the standard size, and a first mode for determining the size of the original document based on the comparison result of the comparison means and the comparison mode without comparison by the comparison means. When the first mode is set by the mode setting means and the mode setting means for manually selecting one of the two fixed modes, the length of the document measured by the measuring means is set to the plurality of fixed forms. If the difference between one of the sizes is within a predetermined value, the original size is determined as the standard size, and if the length of the original measured by the measuring means is larger than the predetermined value for any standard size, the original size is determined. The above measuring means On the other hand, when the second mode is selected, the original size is determined as the original size determined by the original size determination unit, and the original size is determined as the standard size determined by the original size determination unit. An image forming apparatus for automatically determining an image forming magnification of an original based on the original size or the original size as a measurement value.