JP3589552B2 - Image forming device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that reads information on a document, converts the obtained image information into a digital signal, and forms an image on a recording sheet based on an image signal obtained by performing image processing. The present invention relates to a good image forming apparatus.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine is well known. The image forming apparatus includes a document reading unit that reads information on a document, an image processing unit that converts the information read by the document reading unit into a digital signal and performs image processing, and records based on an image signal from the image processing unit. An image forming unit that forms an image on a sheet, an operation unit for inputting and setting operating conditions of the respective units, and a control unit that controls operations of the respective units based on the input operating conditions are provided. I have.
In recent years, such image forming apparatuses have diversified and complicated functions in order to respond to various demands of users, and accordingly, input operations of operating conditions are also complicated, resulting in deterioration of operability. I have.
[0003]
As a technique for avoiding such a decrease in operability, there is a technique described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 64-61869. In this prior art, a predetermined operating condition is converted into a barcode, and the operating condition can be input by reading the barcode from a barcode reader.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in such a conventional technique, the number of operating conditions that can be converted into a bar code is limited, and even when setting an operating condition that has been converted into a bar code, the operation of always selecting and reading a bar code is not always possible. There is a problem that the operability is still insufficient, for example, it is necessary, time-consuming, and there is a risk of an operation error.
When an image is formed using the same document in the above-described image forming apparatus, the same operating conditions are often input and set.
[0005]
SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is to provide an image forming apparatus with good operability in which operations for setting operating conditions are minimized.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to the first aspect of the present invention, a document reading unit that reads information on a document, an image processing unit that converts image information read by the document reading unit into a digital signal and performs image processing, and an image signal from the image processing unit An image forming unit for forming an image on a recording sheet based on the operation unit, an operation unit for inputting and setting operation conditions of each unit, and a control unit for controlling the operation of each unit based on the input operation conditions In the image forming apparatus comprising: a condition information converting unit that converts the first operating condition input to the operation unit into information, and the first operating condition information converted into information by the condition information converting unit is stored. a condition information storage unit that, the condition information detecting section for detecting a second operating condition information on the document from the image signal from the image processing unit, detected by said condition information detecting unit on the image signal from the image processing unit The second and the condition information rewriting unit for rewriting the operating condition information to the first operating condition information stored in the condition information storage unit, the condition information said stored operating condition information in the storage unit recording sheet A condition information recording unit that records the second operation condition information with the first operation condition information in the condition information rewriting unit. An image forming apparatus, wherein operating condition information is recorded on the recording sheet, and the control unit controls the operation of each unit according to an operating condition based on the operating condition information recorded by the condition information recording unit. By doing so, the above object is achieved.
[0007]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the first operation condition is input by the operation unit, and the second operation condition information is detected by the condition information detection unit. In the case where the condition information rewriting unit is further provided, the condition information rewriting unit further includes a rewrite confirmation unit for confirming whether or not to rewrite the operation condition information. The information rewriting unit rewrites the second operation condition information with the first operation condition information for the image signal from the image processing unit .
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, when forming an image on the plurality of originals, the control unit may form an image of the original read first. The condition information recording unit is controlled such that the operation condition information is recorded only on the recording sheet.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first, second, or third aspect of the invention, the operation unit is configured to select at least one of a plurality of preset recording positions. The condition information recording unit records the operation condition information at a recording position selected by the operation unit.
[0008]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. This embodiment is applied to a digital electrophotographic copying machine.
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an electrophotographic copying machine as an embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a control system of the copying machine shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a correspondence table stored and held in the condition information storage unit of the copying machine shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the correspondence between the character string of the operation condition information obtained by the condition information conversion unit of the copying machine shown in FIG. 1 and the parameters of the operation condition. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the copying machine of FIG. 1 when an input is made, and FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the copying machine of FIG. 1 when no operating condition is inputted from the operation display unit.
[0009]
As shown in FIG. 1, a copying machine 1 as an image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment includes a document reading unit 10 that reads image information on a document, and converts the image information read by the document reading unit 10 into a digital signal. An image processing unit 20 for performing image processing, an image forming unit 30 for forming an image on a recording sheet R based on an image signal from the image processing unit 20, and an operation unit for inputting and setting operating conditions of each unit And an operation display unit 40.
Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the copier 1 controls the operations of the document reading unit 10, the image processing unit 20, and the image forming unit 30 according to the operation conditions input from the operation display unit 40 by the control unit 50. It is controlled based on.
[0010]
The document reading unit 10 includes an exposure scanning device 13 that exposes and scans a document placed on a document placement unit 11 on the top surface of the copying machine 1 and a document transferred to a feeder 12 to obtain image light. .
The image processing unit 20 converts the image light obtained by the exposure scanning into an image signal, and digitizes the image signal from the image sensor 21 and performs image processing to emit a corresponding laser beam L. An image processing device 22 is provided. The image processing device 22 emits the laser beam L also by a signal from the control unit 50, and can erase a portion corresponding to the condition information from the image signal.
[0011]
The image forming section 30 includes a rotating drum 32 having a photoconductive layer on the surface, and the rotating drum 32 is irradiated with the laser beam L to form an electrostatic latent image. . Then, toner is attached to the electrostatic latent image on the rotating drum 32 to form a toner image. This toner image is transferred to the recording sheet R supplied from the paper feed trays 33a, 33a ', and 33b and conveyed, and is thermally fused. To get the image. The image forming unit 30 includes a front end sensor 34a that detects a front end of the conveyed recording sheet R and a rear end of the recording sheet upstream of a transfer position where the toner image is transferred onto the recording sheet R when viewed from the conveyance direction of the recording sheet R. And a rear end sensor 34b for detecting the
[0012]
The image forming unit 30 has a function as a condition information recording unit, and is irradiated with a laser beam L corresponding to operation condition information emitted from the image processing unit 20 according to a signal from the control unit 50. The condition information is recorded at a predetermined position on the upper or lower part of the recording sheet R by the same method as the image formation.
As the front end sensor 34a and the rear end sensor 34b, an optical sensor or the like that detects the presence or absence of a recording sheet based on a difference in luminous intensity of reflected light or transmitted light is used.
[0013]
The operation display unit 40 is used to input and set operation conditions such as the number of copies, enlargement / reduction of images, copy density, paper (recording sheet) size, etc., and keys for instructing start and interruption of a copy operation. A display for displaying operating conditions and the like input from keys.
As shown in FIG. 2, the control unit 50 includes a condition information conversion unit 51 that converts the operation conditions input to the operation display unit 40 into information, and the operation condition information that is converted by the condition information conversion unit 51 into information. A condition information storage unit 52 for storing the information and a condition information detection unit 53 for detecting the operation condition information recorded on the recording sheet R are provided.
[0014]
The condition information conversion unit 51 acquires from the operation display unit 40 the values of the operation conditions such as the number of copies, the size of the recording sheet, and enlargement / reduction of the image, and stores and holds the values in the condition information storage unit 52. A code corresponding to the value of each parameter of the operating condition is read out from the table, listed as shown in FIG. 4, and replaced with an operating condition information of an eight-digit character string consisting only of numbers and alphabets.
For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the condition information storage unit 52 stores and holds a correspondence table in which the values of the parameters and the corresponding codes are associated with each of the parameters of the operation condition, It stores and holds operating condition information corresponding to the operating condition being used.
For example, the operating conditions for two copies, a paper size of A4, a density of level 3, and a 150% enlargement are replaced by “02A43150” by the condition information generation unit 51 and stored in the condition information storage unit 52.
[0015]
The condition information detecting section 53 identifies image information and the condition information in the image signal digitized by the image processing device 22, and detects whether or not there is condition information in the document. This condition information is detected, for example, when an image signal corresponding to an 8-digit character string consisting of only numbers and alphabets is present at a predetermined position on the upper or lower part of the document, and the character string is stored in the condition information storage unit 52. This is performed by detecting whether or not it is included in the condition information of the held correspondence table. There is an image signal corresponding to an 8-digit character string, and each of the characters of the 8-digit character string is In the correspondence table shown in FIG. 3, if the digit is included in the operation condition information of the parameter, it is determined that the document has the operation condition information, and otherwise, it is determined that there is no operation condition information.
[0016]
Next, the operation of the copying machine of the present embodiment having the above-described configuration will be described with reference to FIG. 5 or FIG.
In the copying machine 1 of the present embodiment, a document is set on the document placing portion 11 or the feeder 12 of the copying machine by an operator. Then, in the copying machine 1, it is determined whether or not an operation condition has been input from the operation display unit 40 before or after the document is set (step 1). Hereinafter, the case where the operating condition is input from the operation display unit 40 before and after the document is set and the case where the operating condition is not input will be described separately.
[0017]
First, the operation of the copying machine when the operating conditions are input from the operation display unit 40 before and after the document is set (step 1; Y) will be described with reference to FIG. First, the input operation conditions are converted into operation condition information by the condition information generation unit 51 (step 2), and the obtained operation condition information is stored in the condition information storage unit 52 (step 3). After that, the operation of each unit for image formation is controlled based on the input operation conditions.
After storing the operating condition information, the exposure scanning device 13 of the document reading section 10 is started to scan the document by exposure. After the obtained image light is converted into an image signal by the image sensor 21, the image light is incident on the image processing device 22 and digitized (step 4). The digitized image signal is output to the condition information detection unit 53, and the condition information detection unit 53 detects the operation condition information (step 5).
[0018]
When the operation condition information is detected (Step 5; Y), an inquiry as to whether or not the operation condition information is rewritten is displayed on the display of the operation display unit 40 (Step 6).
When the inquiry about whether or not to rewrite the operation condition information is made to be rewritten (step 6; Y), an inquiry about whether to record the recording position of the operation condition information in the upper part or the lower part of the recording sheet R is made. It is displayed and the desired recording position is obtained (step 7). Subsequently, in the image processing device 22, the part corresponding to the detected condition information is deleted from the digitized image signal, and the part corresponding to the operation condition information stored in the condition information storage unit 52 is deleted instead. Is input so that the signal is recorded at the desired recording position of the recording sheet R (step 8), and the gradation analysis is performed in accordance with the operation condition corresponding to the operation condition information stored in the condition information storage unit 52. And the like. Then, the image signal that has been partially replaced or deleted and subjected to image processing as described above is converted into a corresponding laser beam L, and is emitted to the rotating drum 32 of the image forming unit 30 (step 9).
[0019]
If there is an input indicating that rewriting is not to be performed (step 6; N), the digitized image signal incident from the image sensor 21 is directly converted into a laser beam L and emitted to the rotating drum 32 of the image forming unit 30 ( Step 9).
The irradiation of the laser beam L forms an electrostatic latent image on the rotating drum 32. Then, toner is attached to the electrostatic latent image to obtain a toner image.
While the toner image is being formed on the rotating drum 32, the recording sheet R is supplied and conveyed from any one of the sheet feeding trays 33a, 33a ', and 33b, with the upper side thereof being on the downstream side. This recording sheet R detects the front end by the front end sensor 34a when the image information is rewritten and the desired recording position is on the upper side and when the image information is not rewritten, and is rearward when the image information is rewritten and the desired recording position is on the lower side. The trailing edge is detected by the edge sensor 34b, and the sheet is conveyed to face the toner image on the rotating drum 32 at a predetermined position. Then, the toner image on the rotating drum 32 is transferred onto the recording sheet R, and the toner image is fixed by heat welding (step 10).
[0020]
As a result, if there is an input to rewrite the condition information (step 6; Y), a recording sheet R on which an image and new operating condition information are recorded / formed is obtained. If the user inputs that the condition information should not be rewritten (step 6; N), a recording sheet R on which an image similar to the document and the operation condition information are recorded and formed is obtained.
When the number of copies is plural (when the same document is copied in plural copies), the steps from the irradiation of the laser beam L to the fixing of the toner image are repeated as necessary.
[0021]
If the condition information detecting unit 53 does not detect the operation condition information (step 5; N), the recording position of the condition information is determined on the upper and lower sides of the recording sheet R without inquiring about the rewriting of the operation condition information. An inquiry as to which is to be recorded is displayed to obtain a desired recording position (step 7), and a signal corresponding to the operation condition information stored in the condition information storage unit 52 is added by the same process as described above. (Step 8) Image processing is performed on the digitized image signal (Step 9), and an image corresponding to this signal is formed in the image forming section 30 (Step 10). As a result, a recording sheet R on which an image similar to the document and operation condition information corresponding to the operation condition input from the operation display unit 40 are recorded and formed is obtained.
[0022]
Thereafter, it is detected whether or not there is an original of the second and subsequent originals (step 11). If there is the next original (step 11; Y), the operation condition information stored in the condition information storage unit 52 is read. According to the operating conditions based on the above, an image is obtained through the steps of original exposure scanning and image signalization (step 12), image processing (step 9), and image formation (step 10) in the same manner as in a conventional copier.
[0023]
Next, a case where no operating condition is input when a document is set (step 1; N) will be described.
In this case, as shown in FIG. 6, the exposure scanning device 13 of the document reading unit 10 is started immediately, the image light is converted into an image signal by the image sensor 21, and is incident on the image processing device 22 to be digitized ( Step 21). Then, the digitized image signal is output to the condition information detection unit 53, and the condition information detection unit 53 detects the operation condition information (step 22).
When the operation condition information is detected (Step 22; Y), the operation condition information is stored in the condition information storage unit 52 (Step 23). Hereinafter, the operation of each unit for image formation is controlled by operating conditions based on the operating condition information.
After storing the operating condition information, image processing is performed on the digitized image signal (step 24), and the image forming unit 30 forms an image based on the signal (step 25). As a result, a recording sheet R on which the same image as the original and the same operating condition information as the original are recorded and formed is obtained.
[0024]
If the condition information is not detected (Step 22; N), the image forming operation is controlled in accordance with the operation conditions set in the copying machine and stored in the condition operation storage unit 52. The digitized image signal is subjected to only image processing such as gradation analysis without newly adding a signal (step 24) to form an image (step 25). As a result, a recording sheet R on which only the same image as the document is recorded / formed is obtained.
[0025]
Thereafter, it is detected whether or not there is an original of the second and subsequent originals (step 26). If there is the next original (step 26; Y), the operation condition information stored in the condition information storage unit 52 is read. The image is obtained through the steps of original exposure scanning, image signal conversion (step 27), image processing (step 24), and image formation (step 25) in the same manner as in a conventional copier in accordance with the operating conditions based on.
[0026]
As described above, according to the copying machine 1 of the present embodiment, the operation condition information at the time of image formation is recorded on the recording sheet R, so that the next time an image is formed, the operation condition information is easily referred to. Operating conditions can be set, operation errors can be reduced, and good operability can be obtained.
[0027]
In particular, according to the copying machine 1 of the present embodiment, when the image forming operation is performed on a plurality of originals at once, the operating condition information is recorded only on the recording sheet R on which the image of the original read first is formed. Therefore, the recording of the operation condition information on the recording sheet R can be reduced.
Further, according to the copying machine 1 of the present embodiment, the recording position of the operating condition information on the recording sheet R can be selected from the upper part and the lower part of the recording sheet R. Can be avoided from being formed.
According to the copying machine 1 of the present embodiment, the condition information detecting means 53 for detecting the condition information on the recording sheet R is provided, and the operating conditions are automatically set based on the operating condition information. Input of conditions can be minimized, input errors can be avoided, and better operability can be obtained.
[0028]
According to the copying machine 1 of the present embodiment, since the operation condition information is a list of codes corresponding to the values of each parameter, all the operation condition information having any parameter value is converted into information without any particular limitation. It is possible to record on the recording sheet R.
According to the copying machine 1 of the present embodiment, since the operation condition information is a character string of a number and an alphabet corresponding to the value of each parameter, the operation condition can be visually deciphered from the operation condition information. It is easy to input the operating conditions.
According to the copying machine 1 of the present embodiment, when the operating condition input from the operation display unit 40 is different from the operating condition corresponding to the operating condition information recorded on the original, only one of the operating conditions is used. Is selected and recorded on the recording sheet R as the operation condition information, the recording of the operation condition information is suppressed to a small amount, and the detection of the operation condition information at the time of next image formation is easy.
[0029]
Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be appropriately changed without departing from the gist of the present invention.
For example, when it is not necessary to rewrite the operation condition information (that is, when the operation condition information is input from the operation display unit 40, the operation condition information is detected on the document, and a response indicating that the operation condition information does not need to be rewritten is obtained in the inquiry, In the case where the operating condition is not input from the operation display unit 40 and the operating condition information is detected from the original), when the next image is formed, the recording sheet R in which a new image is created may be used. Therefore, it is also possible to control so that the signal relating to the operating condition information is deleted from the image signal and the operating condition information is not recorded on the recording sheet R.
The condition information reading unit may be provided separately from the document reading unit 10, or the condition information recording unit may be provided separately from the image forming unit 30.
[0030]
The correspondence between the operation condition and the operation condition information is determined by, for example, not encoding the value of the operation condition for each parameter. For example, one code may be associated with an operating condition including all parameters, such as “1”.
The operating condition information is not limited to a character string such as a character string composed of numerals or alphabets, but may be a bar code, a hole formed at a predetermined position on a recording sheet, or the like. The operating condition information may be readable by a method other than optical reading, such as magnetic recording. However, when it is assumed that the operation information can be read by a method other than optical reading, an operation condition information reading unit different from the document reading unit 10 may be provided, or condition information recording different from the image forming unit 30 may be provided. Parts need to be provided.
The recording position of the operating condition information may be determined, for example, only at one location below the recording sheet R. In this case, it is not necessary to make an inquiry about the recording position when recording the operation condition information, and it is possible to efficiently perform the detection of the operation condition information only at one determined position. Further, the recording position of the operation condition information can be selected from four corners, or can be set at an arbitrary position by designating the distance from the upper end and the left end of the recording sheet.
[0031]
When a plurality of copies of one or a plurality of originals are copied, the control unit 50 may be set so that the operating condition information is recorded only in the first part.
When the image is formed based on the recording sheet R on which the image is formed without the condition information detecting means 53, the operator inputs the operating condition based on the condition information recorded on the recording sheet R. It may be.
An image forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied includes: a document reading unit that reads information on a document; an image processing unit that converts image information read by the document reading unit into a digital signal and performs image processing; An image forming unit that forms an image on a recording sheet based on an image signal of the above, an operation unit for inputting / setting operating conditions of the respective units, and controlling operations of the respective units based on the input operating conditions It is only necessary to provide a control unit for performing the processing, and the present invention is not limited to a copying machine.
[0032]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, the operating condition information at the time of image formation is recorded on the recording sheet, and the operating condition can be easily input by referring to the operating condition information from the next, thereby avoiding an input error. And good operability can be obtained.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a copying machine as an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a control system of the copying machine shown in FIG.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a correspondence table stored and held in a condition information storage unit of the copying machine of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a correspondence between a character string of operation condition information obtained by a condition information conversion unit of the copying machine of FIG. 1 and a parameter of the operation condition.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation of the copying machine of FIG. 1 when an operation condition is input from the operation display unit.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation of the copying machine of FIG. 1 when an operation condition is not input from the operation display unit.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Copier (image forming apparatus)
10 Document reading unit 20 Image processing unit 30 Image forming unit (condition information recording unit)
40 Operation display unit (operation unit)
Reference Signs List 50 control unit 51 condition information conversion unit 52 condition information storage unit 53 condition information detection unit L laser beam R recording sheet

Claims (4)

An original reading unit that reads information on the original,
An image processing unit that converts the image information read by the document reading unit into a digital signal and performs image processing;
An image forming unit that forms an image on a recording sheet based on an image signal from the image processing unit;
An operation unit for inputting and setting the operation conditions of each unit,
A control unit that controls the operation of each unit based on the input operating conditions,
A condition information conversion unit that converts the first operation condition input to the operation unit into information,
A condition information storage unit that stores the first operation condition information computerized by the condition information generation unit;
A condition information detection unit that detects second operation condition information on the document from an image signal from the image processing unit;
A condition information rewriting unit that rewrites the second operation condition information detected by the condition information detection unit with respect to the image signal from the image processing unit to the first operation condition information stored in the condition information storage unit;
A condition information recording unit that records the operation condition information stored in the condition information storage unit on the recording sheet ,
When the condition information rewriting unit rewrites the second operation condition information to the first operation condition information, the condition information recording unit records the first operation condition information on the recording sheet;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls an operation of each unit according to an operation condition based on operation condition information recorded by the condition information recording unit . When the first operation condition is input by the operation unit and the second operation condition information is detected by the condition information detection unit, the condition information rewriting unit rewrites the operation condition information. Further comprising a rewrite confirmation unit for confirming whether to perform,
When the rewriting confirmation unit confirms rewriting of the operation condition information, the condition information rewriting unit rewrites the second operation condition information with the first operation condition information for an image signal from the image processing unit. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: The control unit is configured to, when forming an image on the plurality of originals, store the operating condition information only on the recording sheet on which an image of the original read first is formed. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the image forming apparatus controls a recording unit. The operation unit is configured to be able to select at least one of a plurality of preset recording positions,
The condition information recording unit, an image forming apparatus according to claim 1, claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the recording the operating condition information to the selected recording position by the operation unit.

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