JP3207601B2 - Image forming device with image reading function - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having an image reading function.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an image forming apparatus having an image reading function, for example, in a copying machine, an automatic document feeder (hereinafter referred to as ADF) for automatically conveying a document and setting the document at a reading position is well known. The paper feed tray of the ADF also serves as a paper feed tray for recording paper, and a paper feed tray capable of feeding a document from the same paper feed tray to the ADF and a recording paper to a paper feeder is provided. Proposed. As an example of such a paper feed tray, a paper feed tray described in JP-A-60-26368 will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0003] As shown in FIG. 4, an ADF 45 is provided above a copying machine main body 44. A paper feed tray 40 is attached to the outside of the ADF 45 in front of the document insertion slot 46. A paper insertion slot 50 is opened substantially at the center of the paper feed tray 40. The tray upper surface 47 on the copying machine main body side from the paper insertion slot 50 forms the same surface as the upper surface of the copying machine main body 44. Then, the paper insertion slot 50
The outer tray upper surface 48 is one step lower than the tray upper surface 47 on the copying machine main body side. Further, the upper and lower guide plates 52, 5
3 is provided, and the leading end thereof is connected to a recording paper insertion port 51 of the copying machine main body 44. Reference numeral 54 denotes a paper feed roller.

When the paper feed tray 40 constructed as described above is used as a paper feed tray for feeding a document,
When a document is inserted into the document insertion slot 46 using the tray upper surface 47 near the copying machine main body and is used as a paper feed tray for feeding recording paper, the tray upper surface 48 is lowered one step.
Then, the recording paper is inserted into the paper insertion slot 50 by using.

[0005]

However, according to the configuration of the above-described paper feed tray 40, the original is inserted into the ADF original insertion port 46 using the upper surface of the stepped paper feed tray.
In addition, since the recording paper is merely inserted into the paper insertion slot 50, there is a possibility that the original or the recording paper may be inserted into the opposite insertion ports. When the above-described paper feed tray 40 is mounted on an image forming apparatus having an image reading function, for example, a printer equipped with a scanner, or a copying machine that can be used as a printer, an attempt is made to copy the original, and When the user inserts the original into the paper insertion slot 50 and instructs the start of copying, the original is fed to the image forming unit, another image is formed on the original, or the recording paper is printed. Incorrectly inserted into the document insertion slot 46 of the ADF, the recording paper is conveyed to the image reading unit, and reading the blank recording paper may be wasted.

As described above, in a conventional image forming apparatus having an image reading function capable of feeding a document or a recording sheet from the same paper feed tray to the image reading section and the image forming section, There is a problem that the paper is likely to be erroneously fed in the reverse direction, so that another image is formed on the document or a blank recording paper is read.

The present invention solves the above problems and provides an image forming apparatus having an image reading function capable of reliably feeding a document or a recording sheet from the same paper feed tray to an image reading means or an image forming means. The task is to

[0008]

According to the present invention, there is provided an image reading means for reading a document image and converting it into an electric signal, and forming an image on a recording medium by receiving an electric signal as image information. An image forming means, comprising: an automatic document feeder for automatically feeding a document to the image reading means; and a paper feeder for feeding a recording medium to the image forming means. An image forming apparatus with an image reading function capable of feeding a recording medium from the paper feeding table to the paper feeding means, a scanner mode for reading a document image by the image reading means, and a document image read by the image reading means. A copy mode for copying the image by the image forming means, and a printer for forming an image by the image forming means based on the received image information A mode designation means for designating each of the modes, a recording medium conveyance path connected to the document conveyance path of the automatic document feeder and leading to the paper supply means, and a sheet fed from the paper supply table. Path changing means rotatable between a first position in which the path of the original or the recording medium is set as the document conveying path and a second position for switching from the original conveying path to the recording medium conveying path; Display means for detecting the presence or absence of an image on a document or a recording medium fed from the above by the image reading means and displaying the presence or absence of the image, and an input for designating continuation or change of the mode designated by the mode designation means Means when the scanner mode is designated by the mode designating means, the position of the course changing means is set to the first position, and an image is detected by the image reading means. In this case, the first position of the course changing means is maintained, and when no image is detected, the first position of the course changing means is maintained and the mode change is instructed when the mode continuation is instructed by the input means. The position of the course changing means is changed to the second position.
When the copy mode is designated by the mode designating means, the position of the course changing means is set to the first position, and when an image is detected by the image reading means, the course changing means is changed to the first position. The first position is maintained, and if no image is detected, the position of the course changing means is switched to the second position. If the printer mode is designated by the mode designating means, the position of the course changing hand is changed. In addition to setting the second position, when the image is not detected by the image reading unit, the second position of the course changing unit is maintained, and when the image is detected, the mode continuation is instructed by the input unit. In this case, when the mode change is instructed while maintaining the second position of the course changing means, the position of the course changing means is switched to the first position. It is solved by.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sheet detecting means for detecting a document or a recording medium set on the sheet supply table, and the mode designation is performed by the mode designation means. If the paper detecting means detects a document or a recording medium before, the display means displays that the procedure is different and waits, and after the mode is specified, the paper detecting means detects the document or the recording medium. In this case, it is proposed that the display means display a message prompting confirmation of the document or the recording medium.

Further, according to the present invention, there is provided an image reading means for reading an original image and converting it into an electric signal, and forming an image on a recording medium by receiving the electric signal as image information. An image forming means, comprising: an automatic document feeder for automatically feeding a document to the image reading means; and a paper feeder for feeding a recording medium to the image forming means. In an image forming apparatus with an image reading function capable of feeding a recording medium from the sheet feeding table to the sheet feeding means, a recording medium conveyance path connected to a document conveyance path of the automatic document feeding means and leading to the sheet feeding means, It is rotatable between a first position where the path of a document or a recording medium fed from the paper feed table is set as the document conveyance path and a second position where the document conveyance path is switched to the recording medium conveyance path. A path changing means, a paper attachment used for setting either a document or a recording medium on the paper feed tray, and an attachment sensor for detecting that the paper attachment is set on the paper feed tray are provided. When the paper attachment is used when the original is set on the paper feed tray, when the attachment sensor detects the paper attachment, the position of the path changing unit is set to the first position and the paper attachment is not detected. If the position of the path changing means is the second position and the paper attachment is used when the recording medium is set on the paper feed tray, the path is set when the attachment sensor detects the paper attachment. When the position of the change means is set to the second position and the paper attachment is not detected The position of the diverting means propose to the first position.

[0011]

The position of the course changing means is switched to a position suitable for each mode specified by the mode specifying means. And
The presence or absence of an image on a document or a recording medium fed from the same paper feed tray is detected by an image reading unit. The presence or absence of the image is displayed on the display unit, and the position of the course changing unit is maintained when the user specifies the continuation of the mode, and the position of the course changing unit is switched when the user specifies the change of the mode. Other effects will be apparent from the following description of the embodiments.

Other effects will be apparent from the following description of the embodiment.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, an image reading means (hereinafter, referred to as a scanner) 2 is mounted on an upper end of a main body 1 of the image forming apparatus. Since the main body 1 of the image forming apparatus is a conventionally known laser printer, its description is omitted,
Only the scanner part will be described. The scanner 2 not only can automatically convey a document and read an image of the document, but also functions as a paper feed tray for feeding recording paper to a paper feed device (not shown) provided in the apparatus main body 1. I have. Inside the scanner 2, along the document conveyance path R,
A paper sensor 3, a separation roller 4, a separation plate 5, a registration sensor 6, a registration roller pair 7, an image sensor 8, a transport roller 9, a branch flapper 10, a paper discharge roller pair 11, and a paper discharge sensor 12 are provided. In addition, a pair of discharge rollers 1
1, a recording paper transport path S is formed and an original transport path R
It is connected to the. On the other hand, outside the scanner 2, a paper feed table 14 is mounted outside the document insertion slot 13, and a paper discharge tray 16 is mounted outside the document discharge port 15. A display 17 is provided on the upper surface of the scanner 2. The above-described branch flapper 10 is rotatably supported, and is rotated by a drive unit (not shown) between a position where the recording paper transport path S is closed and a position where the recording paper transport path S is opened.

The image forming apparatus with an image reading function according to the present embodiment includes a scanner mode for reading a document image, a copy mode for reading and copying a document image, and a process for inputting image (character) information. There are three printer modes, i.e., a printer mode for performing image formation (printing) on the basis of the image. Each mode is instructed from an operation panel (not shown) provided in the apparatus main body 1.

The scanner mode enables the image forming apparatus 100 to be used as an image input device such as a computer when the image forming apparatus with an image reading function of the present embodiment is connected to another device such as a computer. is there. In this case, the image read by the scanner 2 can be edited by a computer or filed in a recording device.

Next, the operation of the scanner 2 will be described.

After the user designates the mode from the operation panel described above and inserts the original or recording paper 18 into the original insertion slot 13 using the paper feed tray 14, the paper sensor 3 causes the original or recording paper 18 to be inserted. Detect. The display 17 prompts the user to confirm whether the inserted sheet is a document or a recording sheet. After a predetermined time elapses after the display, the separation roller 4 starts rotating, and the separation or feeding of the document or the recording paper 18 is started. The user can confirm whether the set sheet 18 is a document or a recording sheet by using the time until the separation roller 4 starts rotating.

If the user inserts the document or the recording paper 18 into the document insertion slot 13 before the user designates the mode, the display 17 prompts the user to operate in the correct procedure because the procedure is different. . Then, the original or the recording paper 18 is removed from the paper feed table 14 and the apparatus stands by until the mode is designated again.

The following is a description of each mode.

First, the case where the scanner mode is designated will be described. Usually, in the scanner mode, the purpose of the scanner 2 is to automatically convey a document and read an image. Therefore, when the scanner mode is designated, the above-described branch flapper 10 is moved to a position where the recording paper conveyance path S is closed. To rotate. When a document is inserted from the document insertion slot 13, the paper sensor 3 detects the document and displays a message prompting the display 17 to confirm the document as described above. Then, the separation roller 4 starts rotating. When there are a plurality of documents, the documents are separated one by one by a separation roller 4 and a separation plate 5. The original separated into one sheet is a registration roller pair 7
Transported by The image of the document sent by the registration roller pair 7 is read by the image sensor 8 and converted into an electric signal. At this time, if an image is detected on the document before the leading edge of the document reaches the branch flapper 10, the branch flapper 10 is maintained at a position where the recording paper transport path S is closed. Then, the document is transported by the transport rollers 9, and reading of the image by the image sensor 8 is continued. Further, the document is discharged from the document discharge port 15 to the discharge tray 16 by the discharge roller pair 11. Whether or not the document is discharged to the discharge tray 16 is detected by the discharge sensor 12.

If the scanner mode is designated, the recording paper is set on the paper feed table 14 instead of the original, and if the recording paper feeding is started without confirmation, the leading edge of the recording paper is branched by a flapper. Since no image is detected before the number reaches 10, the driving of the conveying roller 9 and the registration roller pair 7 is temporarily stopped, and the recording paper is stopped just before the branch flapper 10. Then, since there is no image on the inserted document, that is, on the recording paper, the display 17 displays whether or not to change the scanner mode to another copy mode or print mode. When the user confirms the display 17 and instructs the continuation of the scanner mode from the operation panel described above, the conveyance of the recording paper is resumed while the branch flapper 10 is maintained at the position for closing the recording paper conveyance path S, and the recording is performed. The paper is discharged to a paper discharge tray 16. When the user instructs a change to the copy mode or the print mode, the branch flapper 10 is rotated to a position where the recording paper transport path S is opened. Then, the conveyance of the recording paper is restarted, the leading end of the recording paper comes into contact with the branch flapper 10, the course is changed, and the recording paper is guided to a paper feeding device (not shown) of the apparatus main body 1.

Next, the case where the copy mode is designated will be described. When the copy mode is designated, the scanner 2 is used as an automatic document feeder for automatically transporting and reading an original, and as a recording paper feeding table for feeding recording paper. Sometimes. When the copy mode is designated, the branch flapper 10 rotates to a position where the recording paper transport path S is closed.
Then, when a document or recording paper is inserted into the document insertion slot 13, as in the above-described scanner mode, a message prompting confirmation of the paper is displayed, and then separation and feeding of the document or recording paper is started. Then, the image is read by the image sensor 8. The leading edge of the original or recording paper is a branch flapper 1
If the image is detected before reaching 0, it is determined that the conveyed sheet is a document, the branch flapper 10 is maintained at a position where the recording sheet conveyance path S is closed, and 16 is discharged. If no image is detected before the leading edge of the document or the recording paper reaches the branch flapper 10, it is determined that the transported paper is the recording paper,
The branch flapper 10 is rotated to a position where the recording paper transport path S is opened. Then, the recording paper is guided to a paper feeding device in the apparatus main body 1 through the recording paper transport path S.

Next, a case where the printer mode is designated will be described. Normally, in the printer mode, the scanner 2 is intended to be used as a paper feeding table for the recording paper, so that the branch flapper 10 rotates to a position where the recording paper transport path S is opened. When the recording paper is set on the paper feed tray 14, a display prompting confirmation of the paper on the paper feed tray 14 is displayed on the display 17 in the same manner as in the scanner mode and the copy mode. The image on the recording paper is read by the image sensor 8. If no image is detected before the leading edge of the recording paper reaches the branch flapper 10, the branch flapper 10 is maintained at a position where the recording paper transport path S is opened, and the recording paper passes through the recording paper transport path S. , To the paper feeder.

When the printer mode is designated, a manuscript or a sheet on which an image has already been formed (hereinafter referred to as a manuscript, etc.) is erroneously set on the paper feed table 14, and separation and feeding of the manuscript etc. is started without ignoring the confirmation. In this case, since the image is detected before the leading end of the document reaches the branch flapper 10, the document is stopped just before the branch flapper. Then, the display 17 displays whether or not to change to the scanner mode or the copy mode because the conveyed document or the like has an image. When the user instructs a change to the scanner mode or the copy mode, the branch flapper 10
Is rotated to a position where the recording paper transport path S is closed, and the original is discharged to the discharge tray 16. When the user instructs the continuation of the printer mode, the branch flapper 10 is maintained at a position where the recording paper transport path S is opened, and a document or the like is guided to the paper feeder through the recording paper transport path S.

In this embodiment, if the procedure for setting the mode and setting the original or the recording paper is mistaken, the original or the recording paper is not conveyed. Then, in order to operate in the correct procedure, the original or the recording paper must be
Before setting on 4, the mode must be specified. Accordingly, when the mode is designated, the user is inevitably conscious of whether to read the original or to feed the recording paper, so that the confirmation of the paper to be set on the paper feed table 14 is more reliable. .

Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described.

As shown in FIG. 2, the image forming apparatus with an image reading function according to this embodiment
4 except that an attachment sensor 26 for detecting attachment / detachment of an attachment, which will be described later, is provided, and that the scanner 20 is not provided with a display, the image forming apparatus with an image reading function of the embodiment described with reference to FIG. Therefore, only different parts will be described.

As shown in FIG. 3, the attachment 21
Is a bottom plate 22, and two side plates 23 attached to the near side and the back side of the bottom plate 22 in a direction perpendicular to the sheet conveying direction.
(A back side plate is not shown), and a detection protrusion 24 provided near the front end of the bottom plate 22 in the sheet conveyance direction. The recording paper 25 has two side plates 2 on the bottom plate 22.
3 between. When the attachment 21 is set on the paper feed tray 14, the detection protrusion 24 is detected by the attachment sensor 26, and detects that the attachment 21 is set on the paper feed tray 14.

In this embodiment, when the recording paper is set on the paper feed table 14, it is set via the attachment 21. When the attachment 21 is set on the paper feed tray 14, the attachment sensor 26
Detects the detection protrusion 24. Then, the branch flapper 10 described with reference to FIG. 1 is rotated to a position where the recording paper transport path S is opened. When the recording paper is placed on the attachment 21, the paper sensor 3 detects the recording paper, the separation roller 4 starts rotating, and the separation and feeding of the recording paper is started.
The recording paper conveyed by the registration roller pair 7 and the conveyance roller 9 (shown in FIG. 1) is changed in path by the branch flapper 10, passes through the recording paper conveyance path S (shown in FIG. 1), and is fed by the apparatus main body. It is led to a device (not shown).

On the other hand, in this embodiment, the original is
4, the original 28 is directly set on the paper feed table 14 without using the attachment 21 described above, as shown in FIG. When the attachment sensor 26 does not detect the detection protrusion 24 of the attachment, the branch flapper 10 rotates to a position where the recording paper transport path S is closed. Then, the separation roller 4 starts rotating, and the separation and feeding of the document 28 is started. While the registration roller pair 7 and the conveyance roller 9 convey the document 28, the image sensor 8 shown in FIG. 1 reads the document image. And manuscript 2
8 is discharged to a discharge tray 16 (shown in FIG. 1).

As described above, in this embodiment, the attachment 21 is not used when setting a document, and the attachment 21 is used when setting recording paper. Moreover, attachment 2
When 1 is not set on the paper feed table 14, the recording paper transport path S is closed, so that the original is not fed to the paper feeder and an image is not formed on the original. Further, in order to feed the recording paper to the paper feeding device, the attachment 21 must be set on the paper feeding table 14. Setting the attachment 21 reminds the user to use the recording paper. Therefore, when the attachment 21 is set on the paper feed table 14, it is possible to prevent the original from being erroneously set and fed from the paper feeder.

By the way, attachment and detachment of the attachment 21,
The relationship between the closing and opening of the recording paper transport path S is not limited to the present embodiment. That is, contrary to the present embodiment, when the attachment 21 is not set on the sheet feeding table 14,
The recording paper transport path S is opened, and the recording paper transport path S is closed when the attachment 21 is set on the paper feed tray 14 so that the original is set via the attachment 21 when the original is set on the paper feed tray 14. Then, when the recording paper is set on the paper feed tray 14, the recording paper may be directly set on the paper feed tray 14.

[0034]

As described above, according to the image forming apparatus with the image reading function of the present invention, when the original and the recording paper are fed from the same paper feed tray, the original and the recording paper are erroneously determined. Even when the paper is fed, the presence or absence of an image on the fed paper is read and displayed on the display, and the user can check the display and change the course of the fed paper. Erroneous printing and image reading of recording paper can be prevented.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the display for prompting the user to confirm the original or recording paper set on the paper feed tray is provided.
Erroneous printing on a document and image reading of a recording paper can be prevented. Also, by operating in the correct procedure,
Documents or recording paper set on the paper feed tray can be more reliably checked.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, when either the original or the recording paper is set on the paper feed tray, an attachment is used, and the original transport path and the recording paper transport path are switched when the attachment is not used. Therefore, erroneous printing on the document and image reading of the recording paper can be prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view showing a configuration of a scanner according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view illustrating another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a front view showing an attachment used in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing an example of a conventional document tray and paper feed tray.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus main body 2 Scanner 3 Paper sensor 4 Separation roller 5 Separation plate 8 Image sensor 10 Branch flapper 14 Paper feed stand 16 Discharge tray 17 Display 20 Scanner 21 Attachment 24 Detection protrusion 26 Attachment sensor R Document transport path S Recording paper Transport path

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI H04N 1/00 108 H04N 1/00 108Q

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. An apparatus comprising: image reading means for reading a document image and converting the image into an electric signal; and image forming means for receiving an electric signal as image information and forming an image on a recording medium. An automatic document feeder for automatically feeding the image reader; and a paper feeder for feeding a recording medium to the image forming means. An image forming apparatus with an image reading function capable of feeding paper, comprising: a scanner mode for reading a document image by the image reading means; a copy mode for copying the document image read by the image reading means by the image forming means; A printer mode for forming an image by the image forming means based on the image information obtained, and a mode for designating each of the modes. Designating means, a recording medium conveyance path connected to the document conveyance path of the automatic document feeding means and leading to the paper feeding means, and a path of a document or a recording medium fed from the paper supply table are defined as the document conveyance path. Path changing means rotatable between a first position and a second position for switching from the document conveying path to the recording medium conveying path, and presence or absence of an image on a document or a recording medium fed from the paper feeding table Display means for detecting the presence of the image by the image reading means, and input means for designating continuation or change of the mode designated by the mode designation means, wherein the scanner mode is designated by the mode designation means In this case, the position of the course changing means is set to the first position, and if an image is detected by the image reading means, the first position of the course changing means is maintained. When no image is detected, the first position of the course changing means is maintained when the mode is instructed by the input means, and when the mode change is instructed, the position of the course changing means is changed to the second position. When the copy mode is designated by the mode designating unit, the position of the course changing unit is set to the first position, and when an image is detected by the image reading unit, the course changing unit is set. Is maintained, and if no image is detected, the position of the course changing means is changed to the second position.
When the printer mode is designated by the mode designating unit, the position of the course changing hand is set to the second position, and when no image is detected by the image reading unit, the position of the course changing unit is The second position is maintained, and if an image is detected, the input means instructs to continue the mode. If the mode is instructed, the course changing means maintains the second position. If the mode is instructed, the course is changed. An image forming apparatus with an image reading function, wherein the position of the means is switched to the first position. 2. A paper detecting means for detecting an original or a recording medium set on the paper feed table, wherein the paper detecting means detects the original or the recording medium before a mode is designated by the mode designating means. In this case, the display means displays the fact that the procedure is different and waits. If the paper detecting means detects the original or the recording medium after the mode is specified, the display means confirms the original or the recording medium. Display that prompts
An image forming apparatus with an image reading function according to claim 1. 3. An apparatus comprising: image reading means for reading a document image and converting it into an electric signal; and image forming means for receiving an electric signal as image information and forming an image on a recording medium, wherein the apparatus comprises: An automatic document feeder for automatically feeding the image reader; and a paper feeder for feeding a recording medium to the image forming means. An image forming apparatus having an image reading function capable of feeding paper, comprising: a recording medium transport path connected to a document transport path of the automatic document feeder and leading to the paper feeder; and a document or recording medium fed from the paper feed tray. Path changing means rotatable between a first position where the path of the document is set as the document conveying path and a second position for switching from the document conveying path to the recording medium conveying path;
A paper attachment for use when setting either the document or the recording medium on the paper feed tray, and an attachment sensor for detecting that the paper attachment is set on the paper feed tray are provided. When the paper attachment is used when the paper attachment is set, the path change unit is set to the first position when the attachment sensor detects the paper attachment, and the path change is performed when the paper attachment is not detected. If the position of the means is the second position, and the paper attachment is used when the recording medium is set on the paper feed table, the position of the course changing means is changed when the attachment sensor detects the paper attachment. When the sheet is not detected as the second position, the path change Image reading function image forming apparatus a position characterized by said first position.