JP3461295B2 - Image forming apparatus, image forming method, and storage medium - 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, an image forming method, and a storage medium, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus for forming and outputting an image on a print sheet based on input image data. The present invention relates to an image forming method applied to a forming apparatus and a storage medium storing a program for executing the image forming method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as one of image forming modes of a copying machine, when a print image is created and output on a print sheet based on an input original image, a cover sheet designated by a user is provided before and after the print output. Cover / Slip sheet mode that inserts the cover sheet fed from the paper feed tray or inserts the interleaf paper fed from the interleaf paper feed tray specified by the user at the user specified position during print output There is. Note that the slip sheet is a separator sheet that is inserted into a predetermined page.

There is also an automatic paper-sheet selection function for automatically selecting a paper-feed tray in which print paper of an optimum size is set from among selectable paper-feed trays according to the image size of a print image.

Further, in a copying machine having a memory capable of storing the input original image data, the print image generated inside the copying machine based on the original image does not fit on the print paper as it is, but the print image is not printed. There is an auto-rotation function of rotating a print image by 90 ° to form an image on the print paper when the print image enters the print paper by rotating 90 ° by 90 °.

Here, when the cover / insert mode and the automatic paper selection function are set at the same time, the automatic paper selection function selects the print paper according to the size of the print image, and this is performed. A cover / interleaf sheet is inserted into the print from the paper feed tray designated by the user and output.

When the automatic paper selection function and the automatic rotation function are set at the same time, there is no paper of the print image size, but the paper of the size obtained by rotating the print image by 90 ° is set. If so, that paper feed stage is automatically selected and printing is executed.

When the front cover / interleaf mode and the automatic rotation are set at the same time, the print paper selected by the user does not fit in the image as it is, but the print image is rotated by 90 °. If the paper is a size that fits in, the print image is rotated by 90 ° to form an image on the print paper, and the cover / interleaf paper from the paper feed tray designated by the user is inserted and output.

[0008]

The cover / interleaf mode, the automatic paper selection function, and the automatic rotation function described above are important techniques for efficiently using the copying machine, and they are combined to function. It also promotes efficiency.

However, when the cover / insert mode, the automatic paper selection function, and the automatic rotation function are set at the same time, the following problems may occur. That is, even though the original was set in one direction and the cover sheet and slip sheet were also set in the same direction as the original, the appropriate print paper that matches the size of the original is not in the same direction as the set original. In the case where the print image is set in the direction rotated by 90 °, the print image is automatically rotated and printed out. In this case, the orientation of the print output sheet on which the document is printed is different from that of the cover sheet / insert sheet, and it is necessary for the user to re-adjust the orientation of the cover sheet / insert sheet with respect to the print output sheet.

This problem can be avoided by turning off the automatic rotation function. However, unlike the cover / insert sheet mode and the automatic paper selection function, the automatic rotation function is not a function that can be cleared by inputting the reset key. In order to avoid such a problem, the user must turn the setting off / on each time the auto rotation function is used.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and in an image forming apparatus having a cover / interleaf mode, an automatic paper selection function, and an automatic rotation function, an image is formed in the cover / interleaf mode. To provide an image forming apparatus, an image forming method, and a storage medium that can automatically select a sheet of a size suitable for an original by the automatic sheet selection function even when the automatic rotation function is set. To aim.

[0012]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the invention of claim 1, an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a print sheet based on input image data and outputting the image is provided. A memory means for storing the input image data, a plurality of paper feed stages for feeding print sheets of different sizes, and a print of a size suitable for an image to be formed from the plurality of paper feed stages Automatic paper selecting means for selecting a paper feed tray containing paper, and the automatic paper selecting means among the plurality of paper feed trays when forming an image on print paper based on the image data stored in the memory means. If the image to be formed does not fit on the print paper in the paper feed stage selected by the selection means and the entire image does not fit, the formed image is rotated and then formed on the print paper automatically. The cover sheet and / or the interleaf sheet is fed by feeding the cover sheet and / or the interleaf sheet from the image rotation unit and the designated sheet feed stage among the plurality of sheet feed stages, and inserting the cover sheet and / or the interleaf sheet. When the cover / interleaf mode for creating the included print output bundle is set, it has a control means for prohibiting the operation of the automatic image rotation means and then operating the automatic paper selection means. An image forming apparatus characterized by.

[0013]

According to the second aspect of the invention, the input image data is provided with a memory means for storing the input image data and a plurality of paper feed stages for feeding print sheets of different sizes. In an image forming method applied to an image forming apparatus for forming and outputting an image on a print sheet based on the above, a sheet containing a print sheet of a size suitable for the image to be formed from among the plurality of sheet feeding stages. An automatic paper selection step of selecting a paper tray, and an automatic paper selection step selected from the plurality of paper feed trays when forming an image on a print paper based on the image data stored in the memory means. Automatic image to be formed on the print paper after rotating the formed image when the entire image cannot fit on the print paper in the paper feed stage The cover step and / or the interleaf sheet are included by feeding the cover sheet and / or the interleaf sheet from the designated paper feed stage of the plurality of paper feed stages and inserting it into the printed paper. When the cover / interleaf mode for creating a print output bundle is set, after prohibiting the execution of the automatic image rotation step,
A control step for operating the automatic paper selection step.

[0015]

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the input image data is provided with a memory means for storing the input image data and a plurality of paper feed stages for feeding print sheets of different sizes. In a computer-readable storage medium that stores, as a program, an image forming method applied to an image forming apparatus that forms and outputs an image on a print sheet based on the above, the image forming method includes a plurality of sheet feeding stages. An automatic paper selection step of selecting a paper feed tray containing a print paper of a size suitable for the image to be formed, and forming an image on the print paper based on the image data stored in the memory means. In addition, if the image to be formed is not rotated on the print paper of the paper feed stage selected in the automatic paper selection step among the plurality of paper feed stages, the image is formed. If the whole image does not fit, an automatic image rotation step of rotating the formed image on the print paper and forming a cover sheet and / or a cover sheet from a designated paper feed tray of the plurality of paper feed trays. If the cover / insert mode for creating a cover and / or a print output bundle including the insert is set by feeding the insert paper and inserting it into the printed paper, the automatic image And a control step for operating the automatic paper selection step after prohibiting execution of the rotation step.

According to the invention of claim 4, the reading
An image forming device that forms a captured original image on print paper.
The cover sheet and / or interleaving paper in the storage
Cover / insert paper source for cover / insert mode and original image
Automatic rotation to rotate the image 90 degrees according to the print paper
Automatic rotation means to perform the rotation function and a support according to the original size.
Multiple paper feed trays with the same size print paper
Select the automatic paper selection means that performs the automatic paper selection function.
And even if the auto rotation function is set,
/ When the slip sheet mode is set, the automatic paper selector
Priority is given to the paper feed tray that does not need to rotate the original image
It is characterized by the selective selection. Further, according to claim 5,
According to the invention, the read original image is printed on the print paper.
In the image forming apparatus for forming, a cover sheet and / or
Inserting interleaving paper Cover / Interleaving in cover mode
90 degrees to match the paper feeding means and the original image with the print paper
Automatic rotation function to perform the automatic rotation function to rotate
Paper feed tray with print paper of a size corresponding to the draft size
Automatic paper selection function that selects paper from multiple paper sources
A cover sheet / interleaf sheet mode and a front sheet
If the automatic paper selection function is set,
It is characterized by turning off the function.

[0018]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing the arrangement of an image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. Reference numeral 100 is an image forming apparatus main body, and 180 is an automatic document feeder (DF).

In FIG. 1, 101 is a platen glass as a document placing table. Reference numeral 102 denotes a scanner, which includes a document certification lamp 103, a scanning mirror 104, and the like. The scanner 102 is reciprocally scanned in a predetermined direction by a motor (not shown), and the reflected light of the document is scanned by the scanning mirrors 104 to 104.
An image is formed on an image sensor unit (CCD sensor) 109 through a lens 108 via 106.

Reference numeral 120 denotes an exposure control unit composed of a laser, a polygon scanner, etc., which irradiates the photosensitive drum 110 of the image forming unit 126 with the laser beam 129. Laser light 1
Reference numeral 29 is a signal converted into an electric signal by the image sensor unit 109 and modulated based on an image signal subjected to predetermined image processing described later.

Around the photosensitive drum 110, a primary charging device 112, a developing device 121, a transfer charging device 118, and a cleaning device 11 are provided as an image forming unit 126.
6. The pre-exposure lamp 114 is installed. In the image forming unit 126, the photosensitive drum 110 is rotated in the direction of the arrow shown in the figure by a motor (not shown), and after being charged to a desired potential by the primary charger 112, the photosensitive drum 110 from the exposure controller 120 The laser beam 129 is irradiated to form an electrostatic latent image. The electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 110 is developed by the developing device 121 and visualized as a toner image.

On the other hand, the transfer paper fed from the upper cassette 131 or the lower cassette 132 by the pickup rollers 133 and 134 is sent to the main body by the paper feed rollers 135 and 136, and is fed to the transfer belt 130 by the registration rollers 137. The visualized toner image is transferred onto the transfer paper by the transfer charger 118.

On the photosensitive drum 110 after the transfer, the residual toner is cleaned by the cleaning device 116, and the residual charge is erased by the pre-exposure lamp 114. The transfer paper after the transfer is separated from the transfer belt 130, and the pre-fixing charger 1
The toner image is recharged by 39 and 140, and the fixing device 1
The sheet is sent to the printer 41, is fixed by pressure and heat, and is discharged to the outside of the main body 100 by the discharge roller 142.

The main body 100 is equipped with a deck 150 capable of accommodating, for example, 4000 sheets of transfer paper. The lifter 151 of the deck 150 is designed to ascend according to the amount of transfer paper so that the transfer paper always contacts the paper feed roller 152. Further, a multi-purpose manual feed 153 capable of accommodating 100 sheets of transfer paper is provided.

Further, reference numeral 154 denotes a paper discharge flapper, which switches between a double-sided recording side or multiple recording side path and a paper discharge side path. The transfer paper sent from the paper discharge roller 142 is switched to a double-side recording side or multiple recording side path by the paper discharge flapper 154. Further, reference numeral 158 denotes a lower conveyance path, which allows the transfer paper sent from the paper discharge roller 142 to be turned over and guided to the re-feed tray 156 via the reversing path 155 to enable double-sided recording. Also, 1
Reference numeral 57 denotes a multiple flapper that switches between the double-sided recording path and the multiplex recording path. By tilting this to the left, the transfer paper is directly guided to the lower conveyance path 158 without passing through the reversing path 155, and the multiplex recording is performed. It is possible. 159 is route 1
A sheet feeding roller that feeds the transfer sheet to the image forming unit 126 side through 60.

A discharge roller 161 is disposed near the discharge flapper 154, and discharges the transfer paper switched to the discharge side by the discharge flapper 154 to the outside of the machine.
When performing double-sided recording (double-sided copying) or multiplex recording (multiplex copying), the paper discharge flapper 154 is raised to transfer the copied transfer paper to the re-feed tray 156 via the lower conveyance path 158.
To store.

The transfer sheets stored in the re-feed tray 156 are fed one by one from the bottom by the sheet feed roller 159 to the path 16
It is guided to the registration roller 137 of the main body 100 via 0.

When the transfer sheet is reversed and discharged from the main body 100, the discharge flapper 154 is raised and the multiple flapper 157 is tilted to the right to convey the copied transfer sheet to the reverse path 155 side and transfer it. After the trailing edge of the paper passes the first feed roller 162, the reverse roller 163 makes a second
The transfer paper is conveyed to the side of the feed roller 162a, and the transfer paper is discharged to the outside of the machine by the discharge roller 161.

Reference numeral 190 denotes a paper discharge processing device for aligning and binding the transfer paper discharged from the image forming apparatus 100. In the operation unit 172, which will be described later, when the post-processing of the discharged bundle such as sorting and stapling is not set, the transfer paper passes through the transport path 194 and does not pass through the processing tray 193.
It is discharged one by one in 91. When the sheet discharge bundle post-processing operation is set, the transfer sheets discharged one by one through the transport path 195 are stacked and arranged on the processing tray 193. When the discharge of the image formation of the first copy is completed, the transfer sheet bundle is stapled and discharged as a bundle to the sheet discharge tray 191 or the sheet discharge tray 192. Note that when the sheet discharge bundle post-processing operation is set, basically, the sheet bundle is discharged to the sheet discharge tray 192.
Control is performed to switch to the paper discharge tray 191 depending on conditions such as a full state. The paper discharge trays 191 and 192 are vertically moved and controlled by a motor (not shown), and the tray to be stacked is moved to the processing tray position before the image forming operation is started.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control unit provided in the image forming apparatus 100.

Reference numeral 171 denotes a CPU which performs basic control of the image forming apparatus 100, and is an R in which a control program is written.
An OM 174, a work RAM 175 for processing, and an input / output port 173 are connected by an address bus and a data bus. The input / output port 173 is provided with various load devices (not shown) such as motors and clutches controlled by the image forming apparatus 100, and input devices (not shown) such as sensors for detecting the position of the paper to the image forming apparatus 100. It is connected.
The CPU 171 sequentially controls input / output through the input / output port 173 according to the contents of the control program in the ROM 174, and executes image forming processing. In addition, the CPU 17
The operation unit 172 is connected to the CPU 1, and the CPU 171 controls the display unit and the key input unit of the operation unit 172. The operator uses the key input means to instruct the CPU 171 to switch the image forming operation mode and the display.
Reference numeral 71 displays on the display means an operation state of the image forming apparatus 100 and an operation mode set by key input.

Further, the CPU 171 is connected to an image processing section 170 for processing a signal converted into an electric signal by the image sensor section 109 and an image memory section 3 for storing the processed image. The image processing unit 170 and the image memory unit 3 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, respectively.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the image processing section 170 and a device connected to the image memory section 3.

The original image formed on the CCD sensor 109 via the lens 108 is converted into an analog electric signal by the CCD sensor 109. The converted image information is input to an analog signal processing unit (not shown) for sample and hold, dark level correction, etc.
The conversion / SH unit 301 performs analog / digital conversion (A / D
Shading correction is performed on the digitalized signal. With shading correction,
The variation of each pixel of the CCD sensor 109 is corrected, and the light distribution characteristic of the document illumination lamp 103 is corrected.

After that, the log conversion unit 302 performs a process of converting the luminance data into the density data. That is, the log conversion unit 302 stores a look-up table (LUT) for converting the input luminance data into density data, and the look-up table is used to correspond to the input data. The table value is output and the luminance data is converted into the density data.

After that, the scaling processing unit 303 scales the image to a desired magnification, and then the γ correction unit 304 adjusts the output according to the density value set by the operation unit 172. That is, the γ correction unit 304 includes a look-up table (LUT) in consideration of the characteristics of the printer, and when outputting the density data, performs the conversion by the look-up table, and the density data after the conversion is binarized. Send to 305.

In the binarizing unit 305, multi-value density data is 2
It is binarized, and the density values are only two, for example, “0” and “255”. That is, the 8-bit density data is binarized and converted into 1-bit image data of "0" or "1", whereby the storage capacity of the memory for storing the image data is reduced. However, when the image is binarized, the number of gradations of the image changes from 256 gradations to 2 gradations.
In the case of image data having many halftones such as a photographic image, the image is generally significantly deteriorated.

Therefore, it is necessary to express a pseudo halftone with the binarized data. Here, the error diffusion method is used as a method for performing pseudo halftone expression with binary data. In this method, if the density of a certain image is greater than a certain threshold value, the density data is “255”, and if it is less than a certain threshold value, the density data is “0”. The difference between the data and the binarized data is obtained as an error signal and distributed to peripheral pixels. The distribution of the error is performed by multiplying the weighting coefficient on the matrix prepared in advance with the error generated by the binarization and adding it to the peripheral pixels. As a result, the average value of the densities of the entire image is saved, and the halftone can be represented in a pseudo binary manner.

The binarized image data is sent to the image memory unit 3 and stored as an image. Image data from a computer is input to the image memory unit 3 from the external I / F processing unit 4. Since the image data from this computer is processed as binary image data by the external I / F processing unit 4, it is sent to the image memory unit 3 as it is. The image memory unit 3 has a page memory 401 that can be processed at high speed and is composed of a memory such as a DRAM as described later, and a large-capacity memory (hard disk 404) that can store a plurality of page image data. . Hard disk 40
Image data stored in the image forming apparatus 10
The output is 0 in the order corresponding to the edit mode designated by the operation unit 172. For example, in the case of sorting, the images of the bundle of documents read from the automatic document feeder (DF) 180 are sequentially output. That is, the once stored image data of the document is read from the hard disk 404, and this is repeated a plurality of times for output. This allows it to play the same role as a sorter with multiple bins.

The image data output from the image memory unit 3 is sent to the smoothing unit 306 in the printer unit 2. The smoothing unit 306 interpolates the data so that the line ends of the binarized image are smooth, and the interpolated image data is output to the exposure control unit 120. The exposure control unit 120 forms the image data on the transfer paper as described above.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the internal structure of the image memory unit 3 and peripheral devices.

The image memory unit 3 includes a page memory 401,
The memory controller unit 402, the LZ compression unit 403, and the hard disk 404 are included. The memory controller unit 402 includes an external I / F processing unit 4 and an image processing unit 170.
The binary image sent from the page memory 401 is written to the page memory 401, and the image is read from the page memory 401 and sent to the printer unit 2. Further, it controls input / output of images between the hard disk 404, which is a large-capacity storage device, and the page memory 401. The memory controller unit 402 generates a DRAM refresh signal to be sent to the page memory 401, and also arbitrates access to the page memory 401 from the external I / F processing unit 4, the image processing unit 170, and the hard disk 404. Furthermore, the CPU 17
According to the instruction No. 1, determination control of a write address to the page memory 401, a read address from the page memory 401, a read direction, etc. is performed. Thereby, CPU
A page 171 controls a function of arranging and laying out a plurality of original images in the page memory 401 and then outputting to the printer unit 2, a function of cutting out and outputting only a part of the image, and a function of rotating the image.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the internal structure of the external I / F processing unit 4 and peripheral devices.

The external I / F processing unit 4 fetches the binary image data from the reader unit 1 via the image memory unit 3,
Also, the binary image data from the external I / F processing unit 4 is output to the printer unit 2 via the image memory unit 3 to form an image. The external I / F processing unit 4 includes a core unit 506, a facsimile unit 501, a hard disk 502 for storing communication image data of the facsimile unit 501, and a computer interface unit 50 connected to the external computer 11.
3, a formatter unit 504, and an image memory unit 505.

The facsimile section 501 is a modem (not shown)
It is connected to a public line via a public line and receives facsimile communication data from the public line and transmits facsimile communication data to the public line. The facsimile unit 501 uses a fax image stored in the hard disk 502 to perform a fax function such as performing fax transmission at a designated time or transmitting image data in response to an inquiry from a partner with a designated password. Will be realized. As a result, once the reader unit 1 to the image memory unit 3
After the image is transferred to the facsimile unit 501 and the facsimile hard disk 502 via the, the fax transmission can be performed without using the reader unit 1 and the image memory unit 3 for the facsimile function.

Computer interface section 503
Is an interface unit that performs data communication with the external computer 11, and is a local area network (L
AN), serial I / F, SCSI-I / F, and centro I / F for data input of the printer. The state of the printer unit 2 and the reader unit 1 is notified to the external computer 11 via the computer interface unit 503, and the image read by the reader unit 1 is transferred to the external computer 11 according to an instruction from the external computer 11. .

Print image data is also received from the external computer 11. Since the print image data notified from the external computer 11 via the computer interface unit 503 is described in a dedicated printer code, the formatter unit 504 can use the code to form a raster image in the printer unit 2. Convert to data. The formatter unit 504 expands raster image data in the image memory unit 505.

The image memory unit 505 is used not only by the formatter unit 504 as a memory for expanding raster image data in this way, but also when the image from the reader unit 1 is sent to the external computer 11 (image scanner function). To be done. That is, when the image from the reader unit 1 is sent to the external computer 11 via the computer interface unit 503, the image data sent from the image memory unit 3 is once expanded in the image memory unit 505 and sent to the external computer 11 here. The data is converted into a data format and then sent from the computer interface unit 503 to the external computer 11.

The core unit 506 includes a facsimile unit 501,
It controls and manages each data transfer among the computer interface unit 503, the formatter unit 504, the image memory unit 505, and the image memory unit 3. As a result, even if a plurality of image output units are connected to the external I / F processing unit 4 and there is only one image transfer path to the image memory unit 3, under the management of the core unit 506, Exclusive control and priority control are performed, and image output is performed appropriately.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a detailed configuration of the operation unit 172 for setting the copying operation of the image forming apparatus 100.

In FIG. 6, reference numeral 621 indicates power ON / OFF.
It is a power lamp showing the F state. Power switch 61
The power lamp 621 is turned on / off in accordance with the ON / OFF switching of the power supply by 3. Numeral 622 is a ten-key pad, which is used for setting the number of image forming sheets and inputting numerical values for mode setting. The facsimile setting screen is also used for inputting a telephone number. Reference numeral 623 denotes a clear key, which is used to clear the setting input with the ten keys. A reset key 616 is used to return the set number of image forming sheets, the operation mode, the selected sheet feeding stage, and other modes to default values. A start key 614 starts the image forming operation by pressing the start key 614. At the center of the start key 614, there are red and green LEDs indicating whether or not the start is possible. When the start is not possible, the red LED is lit, and when the start is possible, the green LED is lit. A stop key 615 is used to stop the copying operation.

Reference numeral 617 denotes a guide key. When this key is pressed and then another key is pressed, a description of the function that can be set by that key is displayed on the display panel 620.
To cancel this guide display, press the guide key 61 again.
This is done by pressing 7. A user setting key 618 allows the user to change the settings of the image forming apparatus by pressing this key. The settings that can be changed by the user include, for example, the setting of the time until the settings are automatically cleared, the setting of the default value of the mode by pressing the reset key, and the setting of ON / OFF of the auto rotation function described later. is there. 619 is an interrupt key. When this key is pressed during an image forming operation, other image forming operations can be stopped and copying can be performed in a mode in which the automatic document feeder 180 is not used.

Reference numeral 620 is a display panel made of liquid crystal or the like, and the display content changes depending on the setting mode in order to facilitate detailed mode setting. In addition, the display panel 620
The surface of is a touch sensor. The display panel 620 of FIG. 6 shows an example of a copy operation mode setting screen. In FIG. 6, keys 624 to 631 are displayed on the display panel 620, and by touching the positions where these keys are displayed, it is determined whether or not the key is pressed, and the mode is set.

Reference numeral 627 denotes a paper stage selection key. When this key is pressed, the cassettes 131 and 132 and the deck 15 are selected.
A screen for setting which of 0 and multi-manual feed 153 is used for paper feeding is displayed on the display panel 620. 6
28 to 631 are keys for setting the copy magnification. 626
Is an application mode setting key. When this key is pressed, a screen for setting application function modes such as multiplex operation, reduced layout mode, cover / interleaf mode, etc. is displayed on the display panel. For example, as shown in FIG. Setting keys for each application function mode are displayed to enable setting of application mode.

A key 624 in FIG. 6 is a setting key for double-sided operation. For example, a “single-both mode” for outputting both sides from a single-sided original, a “double-both mode” for outputting both sides from a double-sided original, and a double-sided original. It is possible to select and set three types of double-sided modes, which are "double-sided mode" for outputting two single-sided sheets. Reference numeral 625 denotes a sort key. By pressing this key, the operation mode of the paper discharge processing device 190 is set and the image memory unit 3 is operated.
It is possible to set the sorting mode of the output paper using.

In addition to the normal display of the keys on the display panel 620, when the mode of the displayed key cannot be set, the display line is set to a dotted line (shaded),
It means that the key cannot be operated. Further, in the example of FIG. 6, the display unit 633 is provided above the display panel 620, and the contents set in the copying operation and the current operation state are displayed. Further, there is a display unit 633a at the upper left of the screen, and which screen of each function mode described later is displayed. The example of FIG. 6 indicates that the setting screen is copy A. In the example of FIG. 6, the characters are shown, but the symbols may be used.

A display unit 650 is provided below the display panel 620, and operating states of other functional modes are displayed within a range that can be displayed in one line. In the example of FIG. 6, the display unit 650 indicates that the output operation of the copy B to the printer unit is in progress.

Application mode key 62 in display panel 620
Beside 6 is a user-changeable key 634, 635
There are up to two function keys that can be set on the application mode setting screen, and can be registered here. By displaying the application mode setting key here, it is possible to more easily set the registered mode.

In FIG. 6, reference numerals 601 to 612 are keys and an LED display section for switching the display contents of the display panel 620. Reference numerals 601, 604, 607, and 610 are keys for switching respective functions. These keys are composed of semi-transparent key buttons, and an indicator lamp (not shown) such as an LED is provided inside each key. When these keys are pressed to select the operation function screen, the lamp inside the key lights up. The lamp inside each of the remaining unselected keys is controlled to be turned off.

Further, green LED display portions 603, 606, 609, 612 are arranged to the right of each key, and these LED display portions indicate the operating status of the corresponding function by the lighting state of the LED. For example, copy B LED
The display unit 606 is turned off when the copy B is in the standby state, and is blinked when the copy B is in the output operation as in the example shown in FIG. Further, when the image of copy B is stored in the hard disk 404 of the image memory unit 3 and the print operation of copy B is not performed, it is turned on. Similarly, for example, the fax LED display unit 609 blinks during a communication operation, a printing operation, or a reading operation, and lights up when a fax image is present in the facsimile unit 501 or the hard disk 502.

To the left of each key is a red LED display section 60.
2,605,608,611 are arranged and these LEs are
The D display is an LED when an abnormality occurs in the corresponding function.
Lights up. For example, the LED display portion 605 of copy B
Is blinked when an abnormality such as paper out interruption or jam occurs in copy B. At this time, by pressing the copy B function key 604 and switching the display of the display panel 620 to copy B, the status of copy B is displayed on the display panel 620, and the details of the abnormal status can be confirmed. These function keys 601, 604, 607, 610 can be pressed at any time regardless of the operating status of each function, and the display on the display panel 620 can be switched.

When the copy A function and the copy B function can be switched as in this embodiment, the above-mentioned stop key 615, start key 614, and reset key 61 are used.
Keys such as 6 other than the keys in the display panel 620 operate in the function selected by the function switching keys 601 and 604. For example, in the example of FIG. 6, even if the stop key 615 is pressed while the copy A operation screen is displayed, the copy operation cannot be stopped with respect to the output operation of copy B. To stop the copy operation of copy B,
After pressing the copy B function key 604, press the stop key 61
It is necessary to press 5. Also, a user setting key 618
The data set by is valid in each of the screen of the copy A function and the screen of the copy B function, and the setting operation can be performed independently on each screen.

FIGS. 8 to 11 are views showing screens used for setting a cover / inserted sheet mode which will be described later.

The screen shown in FIG. 8 is a cover / sheet which is displayed by switching from the screen shown in FIG. 7 on the display panel 620 by pressing the key 701 in the screen for displaying the setting keys for each applied function mode shown in FIG. It is a paper mode selection screen.
Keys 801, 802, 803 are the front cover, back cover,
This is a key for setting a process for inserting a slip sheet, and when one of the keys is pressed and then the OK key 804 is pressed, the screen of FIG. 8 is switched to the screen of FIG. 9 on the display panel 620.

FIG. 9 is a screen for setting whether or not to copy each of the front cover, the back cover, and the slip sheet. In FIG. 9, all the keys of the front cover, the back cover, and the interleaf sheet are displayed, but the keys not selected in FIG. 8 are shaded and cannot be selected. When the setting to insert the slip sheet is included by pressing the OK key, the display of the display panel 620 is switched to the screen of FIG. 10, while the setting to insert the insert sheet is not included and the cover sheet, If the back cover is set, the display on the display panel 620 is switched to the screen shown in FIG.

FIG. 10 is a screen for setting the position for inserting the slip sheet, and the number of the page of the original to insert the slip sheet is input with the ten keys 622. When the OK key is pressed after the input, the display on the display panel 620 is switched to the screen shown in FIG.

FIG. 11 is a screen for setting the paper feed stage for feeding the front cover, the back cover, and the interleaf sheet. As in the case of FIG. 9, items that are not set are shaded and cannot be selected. . If the front cover, the back cover, and the interleaf have the same size, different paper feed stages can be set. For example, in FIG. 11, for the front cover and the back cover, the paper feed stage 1 in which A4 size paper is set is selected. As for the interleaving paper, the paper feed tray 3 in which the same A4 size paper is set is selected. By pressing the OK key on the screen of FIG. 11, the setting of the cover / insert sheet mode is confirmed.

12 to 14 are flow charts showing the procedure of the processing executed in the cover / sheet insertion mode. Processing in the front cover / interleaf mode consists of three phases: front cover creation phase, interleaf / print phase, back cover creation phase. The front cover creation phase is shown in FIG. 12, the interleaf / print phase is shown in FIG. 13, and the back cover creation is performed. Figure 14 shows the phases
Described in.

In the cover creation phase, first, FIG.
In step S1201, it is determined whether the setting for inserting the cover is set, and if not, the process proceeds to the slip sheet / printing phase. If the cover is set to be created in step S1201, step S120
In step 2, it is determined whether or not the setting is to copy on the cover. In the case of the setting of copying on the cover, one original is fed from the automatic document feeder (DF) 180 onto the platen 101 (step S1203), and one cover is fed from the cover feeding stage (step S1203). S1204) and copy is executed (step S1205). After the copying is completed, the front and back sides of the cover sheet are turned over and then discharged to the outside of the machine (step S
1206). If it is not set to copy the cover sheet in step S1202, one cover sheet is fed from the cover feeding stage (step S1207), and the cover sheet is reversed and discharged (step S1206). The above is the cover creation phase.

Next, the slip sheet / print phase of FIG. 13 is executed.

In the slip sheet / printing phase, first,
One document is fed from the automatic document feeder (DF) 180 onto the platen 101 (step S1308). When there are no unprocessed originals in the automatic document feeder (DF) 180 due to this paper feeding, the process proceeds to the back cover creation phase (step S1309). If it is not the final document, it is determined in step S1310 whether it is the slip sheet insertion position. If it is the interleaf sheet insertion position, one interleaf sheet is fed from the interleaf sheet feeding stage (step S1311), and if it is set to copy onto the interleaf sheet (step S131).
2) Then, copy is executed (step S1313), and the slip sheet is reversed and discharged (step S1314). If it is set not to copy in step S1312, the interleaf paper fed in step S1311 is reversed and discharged in step S314 without copying.

In step S1310, if it is not at the slip sheet insertion position, one copy sheet is fed from the copy sheet feed stage (step S1315), copy is executed (step S1316), and the copy sheet is removed. The paper is reversed and then discharged (step S1317).

Step S1314 or step S1
After executing step 317, the process returns to step S1308, and the automatic document feeder (DF) 180 outputs the final document to the platen 10.
The interleaving / printing phase is repeatedly executed until the paper is fed above 1.

Next, the back cover making phase of FIG. 14 is executed.

In the back cover preparation phase, first, it is judged whether or not the back cover preparation is set (step S1418). If the setting for creating the back cover is made, it is determined whether the setting is for copying on the back cover (step S1419), and if it is the setting for copying,
Feed one back cover sheet from the back cover feed stage (step S
1420), copy is executed (step S1421),
The back cover is reversed and discharged (step S1422).

If it is determined in step S1419 that the back cover is not copied, step S1308.
Since it is found that the last original fed on the platen 101 is not the original for copying on the back cover but the original for copying on copy paper, the copy paper is fed from the copy paper feeding stage 1 Paper feed (step S1
423), copy is performed (step S1424), and the copy sheet is reversed and discharged (step S1425). Then, one back cover sheet is fed from the back cover feeding stage (step S1426), the front and back sides are reversed as it is, and then the sheet is discharged (step S1427).

If it is determined in step S1418 that the back cover is not created, step S130 is performed.
The last original fed on the platen 101 in 8 is
Since it is found that the original is not for copying on the back cover but for copying on copy paper, one copy sheet is fed from the copy sheet feeding stage (step S
1428), copy (step S1429), and reverse discharge (step S1430).

Step S1422 or step S1
By executing 427 or step S1430, the operation of the cover / sheet insertion mode is completed.

The scanned image data is stored in the image memory unit 3
Since it is stored in the hard disk 404, the steps S1203 and S13 are performed when creating the second and subsequent copies.
08 can be omitted, and the hard disk 40
The image data is read out from No. 4 and image formation is performed.

Next, the automatic rotation function will be described.

As described above, the flow of image data is C
The image data of the original image read by the CD sensor 109 is stored in the image memory unit 3, then the image data is read from the image memory unit 3, sent to the printer unit 2, and printed.

Here, when sending the image data to the printer unit 2, the CPU 171 determines the size of the image data on the page memory 401 when printed and the size of the paper set in the paper feed stage of the print paper. Make a comparison.
When the paper size is M × N and the image size is m × n, (M <N), and (m> n), (m>
If (M) and (n <M) and (m <N), then (M
> N) and (m <n), (n> N) and (m <N) and (n <M), the page memory 40
When reading the image data from 1, the memory controller 402 rotates the image data by 90 ° and reads the image data. This allows
The entire area of the image data can be printed on the print paper. The function of the CPU 171 as described above is the automatic rotation function. A specific example of this automatic rotation function will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing how the original image data is rotated by the automatic rotation function. Reference numeral 1501 denotes an original image, 1502 denotes a print sheet, and the original image 15
When 01 is rotated by 90 °, the original image 1501 is output on the print paper 1502 without missing.

Next, the automatic sheet selection function will be described.

The automatic paper selection function is a function of selecting a paper feed stage in which a paper of an optimum size is set for the image data in the page memory 401 from among the selectable paper feed stages.

As for the procedure for selecting the paper feed stage, if the automatic rotation function is not set, first the page memory 40 is selected.
The image size of the image data in 1 is calculated. Then, from the selectable paper feed trays, a plurality of paper feed trays having a size larger than the image size is selected, and further, the smallest paper feed tray is selected. At this time, when there are a plurality of paper feed trays of the same size, the paper feed tray having the shorter distance from the paper feed tray to the registration roller 137 is preferentially selected. If the image size is larger than the maximum size paper feed tray among the plurality of selectable paper feed trays, the maximum size paper feed tray is selected. The above procedure is the same regardless of whether the cover / insert mode is set, unless the automatic rotation function is set.

On the other hand, the automatic rotation function is set,
If the cover / insert mode is set, the image size after rotation is first obtained. Then, from among the selectable paper feed trays, a plurality of paper feed trays having a size larger than the rotated image size is first selected, and the smallest paper feed tray is selected. Further, from the selectable paper feed trays, a plurality of paper feed trays having a size larger than the image size when not rotated is selected, and further, the smallest paper feed tray is selected. Then, compare the size of the paper feed tray selected based on the rotated image size with the size of the paper feed tray selected based on the image size when the image is not rotated, and feed the smaller paper feed size. Select a column. If the sizes are the same as a result of the comparison, the paper feed tray selected based on the image size when not rotated is selected. Thus, if there is paper in the finally selected paper feed stage, it is determined as the optimum paper feed stage.

However, here, there is no paper in the finally selected paper feed tray, and the finally selected paper feed tray is the paper feed tray selected based on the image size in the case of no rotation, If the auto rotation function is set and the size of the paper source selected based on the image size after rotation is the same as the size of the paper source that is finally selected and there is paper, the rotation is performed. The paper feed tray selected based on the subsequent image size is newly determined as the optimum paper feed tray.

If the optimum paper feed stage is not determined by the above procedure, the second candidate is determined by the same procedure. The second candidate is a paper feed tray of the smallest size among a plurality of paper feed trays larger than the image size among the paper feed trays with paper, and in this case, the operation unit 172 determines what was the optimum size.
To be displayed in.

As described above, when the automatic rotation function is set and the cover / interleaf mode is set,
In the automatic paper selection function, the paper feed tray selected based on the image size when not rotated is preferentially selected. Thus, when an image is formed in the front cover / interleaf mode, even if the automatic rotation function is set, it is possible to automatically select the size of the paper suitable for the original by the automatic paper selection function.

In place of the above embodiment, the automatic rotation function may be temporarily turned off when the cover / interleaf mode and the automatic paper selection function are set. As a result, it is possible to avoid selection of a paper feed stage that requires image rotation by the automatic paper selection function.

The present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of a single device.

Further, the storage medium storing the program code of the software that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to the system or apparatus, and the computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus is stored in the storage medium. Needless to say, the present invention can be achieved by reading and executing the program code.

In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the function of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD
-R, magnetic tape, non-volatile memory card, ROM, etc. can be used.

Further, by executing the program code read by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized, but also the OS or the like running on the computer actually operates based on the instruction of the program code. Needless to say, the present invention includes a case where a part or all of the processing of (1) is performed and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written in the memory provided in the function expansion board inserted into the computer or the function expansion unit connected to the computer, based on the instruction of the program code, It goes without saying that the present invention also includes a case where the CPU or the like included in the function expansion board or the function expansion unit performs some or all of the actual processing and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

[0099]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, when the automatic rotation function is set and the cover / interleaf mode is set, when the automatic paper selection function does not rotate. Give priority to the paper source selected based on the image size, or turn off the auto rotation function.
It

Thus, in the image forming apparatus having the cover / insert sheet mode, the automatic sheet selection function, and the automatic rotation function, the user does not need to turn off the automatic rotation function when forming an image in the cover / insert sheet mode. With the automatic paper selection function, it is possible to automatically select the paper size that fits the original.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control unit provided in the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of an image processing unit and a device connected to the image memory unit.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of an image memory unit and peripheral devices.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of an external I / F processing unit and peripheral devices.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a detailed configuration of an operation unit for setting a copying operation of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a first screen displayed on a display panel.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a second screen displayed on the display panel.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a third screen displayed on the display panel.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a fourth screen displayed on the display panel.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a fifth screen displayed on the display panel.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart (cover cover creating phase) showing a procedure of processing executed in a cover / insert mode.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart (interleaving sheet / printing phase) showing a procedure of processing executed in the cover sheet / interleaving sheet mode.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart (back cover creation phase) showing a procedure of processing executed in a cover / insert mode.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing how document image data is rotated by an automatic rotation function.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 reader unit 2 printer unit 3 image memory unit (memory unit) 4 external I / F processing unit 100 image forming apparatus body 109 CCD sensor 131 upper cassette (paper feeding stage) 132 lower cassette (paper feeding stage) 150 deck (paper feeding) 170) image processing unit 171 CPU (automatic paper selection unit, automatic image rotation unit, control unit) 172 operation unit 173 input / output port 174 ROM 175 RAM 180 automatic document feeder (DF) 301 A / D conversion / SH unit 302 log conversion unit 303 scaling processing unit 304 gamma correction unit 305 binarization unit 306 smoothing unit 401 page memory 402 memory controller unit 403 LZ compression unit 404 hard disk 501 facsimile unit 502 hard disk 503 computer interface unit 504 formatter unit 505 image Memory unit 506 core part

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (56) Reference JP-A-11-338315 (JP, A) JP-A-11-167318 (JP, A) JP-A-4-145459 (JP, A) JP-A-60- 138567 (JP, A) (58) Fields surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B41J 21/00 G03G 21/00 370 G06F 3/12

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus for forming and outputting an image on a print sheet based on input image data, and a memory means for storing the input image data, and for feeding print sheets of different sizes. A plurality of paper feed trays, automatic paper selection means for selecting a paper feed tray containing print paper of a size suitable for an image to be formed from the plurality of paper feed trays, and the memory means. When an image is formed on a print sheet based on the image data, the image to be formed must be rotated on the print sheet of the sheet feed stage selected by the automatic sheet selection unit from the plurality of sheet feed stages. For example, when the entire image does not fit, an automatic image rotation unit that rotates the formed image and then forms it on the print paper, and a cover sheet from the designated paper feed stage among the plurality of paper feed stages. And / or insert the interleaf paper and insert it into the printed paper to create a print output bundle that includes the front cover and / or interleaf paper. An image forming apparatus comprising: a control unit that operates the automatic paper selection unit after inhibiting the operation of the automatic image rotation unit. 2. A memory means for storing input image data, and a plurality of paper feed stages for feeding print paper of different sizes, wherein an image is printed on the print paper based on the input image data. In an image forming method applied to an image forming apparatus for forming and outputting a sheet, an automatic paper selection for selecting a paper feed tray containing print paper of a size suitable for an image to be formed from the plurality of paper feed trays. And a step of forming an image on print paper based on the image data stored in the memory means, the print paper of the paper feed tray selected by the automatic paper selection step among the plurality of paper feed trays is selected. An automatic image rotation step of forming the image on print paper after rotating the formed image when the entire image cannot fit unless the formed image is rotated, A cover sheet and / or a slip sheet is fed from a designated sheet feed tray and is inserted into a printed sheet to create a print output bundle including the cover sheet and / or the slip sheet. And a control step for operating the automatic sheet selection step after prohibiting the execution of the automatic image rotation step. 3. A memory means for storing input image data, and a plurality of paper feed stages for feeding print papers of different sizes, wherein an image is printed on the print paper based on the input image data. A computer-readable storage medium that stores, as a program, an image forming method applied to an image forming apparatus that forms and outputs the image forming method, wherein the image forming method forms an image from among the plurality of paper feed stages. An automatic paper selection step of selecting a paper feed tray containing print paper of a size suitable for the plurality of paper feed trays when forming an image on the print paper based on the image data stored in the memory means. If the entire image does not fit on the print paper of the paper feed stage selected in the automatic paper selection step among the An automatic image rotation step of forming an image on a print sheet after rotating the formed image, and feeding a cover sheet and / or an interleaf sheet from a designated sheet feeding stage among the plurality of sheet feeding stages. , When the cover / insert mode for creating a print output bundle including the cover and / or the insert is set by inserting it on the printed paper, execution of the automatic image rotation step is prohibited. And a control step for operating the automatic paper selection step. 4. The read original image is printed on a print sheet.
In the image forming apparatus for forming, a cover sheet / interleaf sheet model in which a cover sheet and / or an interleaf sheet is inserted.
Cover / interleaf paper feeding means for printing , and an option to rotate the original image 90 degrees according to the print paper.
Automatic rotation means that performs a table rotation function, and paper feed that has print paper of a size that corresponds to the original size
Performs an automatic paper selection function that selects a tray from multiple paper feed trays
An automatic paper selection means, and even if the automatic rotation function is set,
When the mode is set, the automatic paper selection function
Select the paper feed tray that does not need to rotate the original image.
An image forming apparatus characterized by selecting. 5. The read original image is printed on a print sheet.
In the image forming apparatus for forming, a cover sheet / interleaf sheet model in which a cover sheet and / or an interleaf sheet is inserted.
Cover / interleaf paper feeding means for printing , and an option to rotate the original image 90 degrees according to the print paper.
Automatic rotation means that performs a table rotation function, and paper feed that has print paper of a size that corresponds to the original size
Performs an automatic paper selection function that selects a tray from multiple paper feed trays
An automatic paper selection means is provided, and the cover / interleaf mode and the automatic paper selection function are set.
If turned off, the auto rotation function is turned off
Image forming apparatus.