JP3693296B2 - Digital copier - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a digital copying machine.

  In a digital copying machine, an original image read by a reading device is stored in a memory for each job, and then read out and copied onto a recording sheet. However, once the job is executed, the image information stored in the memory cannot be read again and copied to the recording paper. For this reason, when it is desired to copy the same original as that used in the job executed in the past, it is necessary to read all the originals used in the job again.

  According to the present invention, a plurality of jobs, which are image information read at the time of a past job, can be read again and copied onto a recording sheet, and stored in the storage unit. It is an object of the present invention to provide a digital copying machine that makes it easy for a user to specify image information for a job to be executed again.

A digital copying machine according to the present invention includes a reading unit that reads image information of an original, a registration unit that registers image information read by the reading unit in a job unit in the storage unit, and image information registered in the storage unit in a job unit. In a digital copying machine provided with a copying means for reading and copying to recording paper, for outputting the image information for a desired job unit out of the normal operation mode and the job unit image information registered in the storage means. Operation mode switching means for switching the re-output operation mode by the user, and image information for each job to be re-output is stored in the state where the operation mode is switched to the re-output operation mode by the operation mode switching means. Use the same original document that was used when registered as Search means means, and among the job image information is stored in the storage unit, to search for a job that contains document information read in the image information to read the 1-page image reading means of, And a re-copying means for reading out the image information for the specified job from the storage means and copying it on the recording paper when the start key is operated after specifying the job including the read document information in the image information A digital copier characterized by comprising:

  According to the present invention, the image information read at the time of the past job, the image information stored in the storage means can be read again and copied onto the recording paper, and a plurality of information stored in the storage means can be stored. A digital copier that makes it easier for the user to specify image information for a job to be re-executed among the image information for that job is obtained.

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

  FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a digital copying machine.

  A contact glass 1 on which an original to be copied (copy original) is placed is provided on the upper surface of the digital copying machine main body. An operation display unit 42 is provided on the upper surface of the copying machine main body. An automatic document feeder (ADF) 41 is disposed on the contact glass 1. A paper feed cassette 2 is provided on one side of the copying machine main body. An exposure mechanism, a print mechanism, and a recording paper transport mechanism are provided in the copying machine main body.

  The exposure mechanism travels a first optical system including an exposure lamp 21 for exposing and scanning an image of a document (not shown) placed on the contact glass 1 and a first mirror 22 for reflecting light reflected from the document. The optical information obtained by the light collecting body 25, the second optical system traveling body 32 including the body 31, the second and third mirrors 23 and 24 for guiding the light reflected by the first mirror 22 to the lens 25, A solid-state imaging device 26 such as a CCD for conversion into an electrical signal, a control unit 27 to which image information obtained by the solid-state imaging device 26 is input, and image data from the control unit 27 are converted into an optical signal (laser light). The laser unit 28 is provided. Laser light output from the laser unit 28 is applied to the photosensitive drum 11.

  The first optical system traveling body 31 and the second optical system traveling body 32 are reciprocated in the left-right direction by a scan motor (not shown). The second optical system traveling body 32 moves at a speed that is 1/2 of the speed of the first optical system traveling body 31 and a distance that is 1/2 of the moving distance of the first optical system traveling body 31.

  The print mechanism includes a photosensitive drum 11. The photosensitive drum 11 is rotationally driven in the direction of the arrow by a main motor (not shown). Around the photosensitive drum 11, in order of rotation, the charger 12 for charging the photosensitive layer on the surface of the photosensitive drum 11, and the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive layer is visualized as a toner visible image. A developing device 13 for transferring, a transfer discharger 14 for transferring the toner image formed on the photosensitive layer to the recording paper, a separating discharger 15 for separating the recording paper from the photosensitive drum 11, and a photoconductor after transfer. A cleaning device 16 that removes the toner remaining on the drum 11 and a static eliminator 17 that removes the charge on the surface of the photosensitive drum 11 are disposed.

  The recording paper transport mechanism includes a paper feed roller 36 for feeding the recording paper in the paper feed cassette 2 and a registration roller for transporting the recording paper sent by the paper feed roller 36 to the photosensitive drum 11 at a predetermined timing. 37 and a conveying belt 38 for conveying the recording paper on which the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 11 is transferred and peeled off from the photosensitive drum 11 to the fixing roller 39. The transfer paper subjected to the fixing process by the fixing roller 39 is sent onto the discharge tray 43 via a discharge mechanism (not shown).

  As shown in FIG. 2, the control unit 27 includes a CPU 101 and a signal processing circuit 102. The CPU 101 includes a ROM 103 that stores the program and the RAM 104 that stores necessary data.

  The signal processing circuit 102 performs predetermined processing on the image information obtained by the solid-state image sensor 26. Image data obtained by the signal processing circuit 102 is temporarily stored in the RAM 104, read out, and sent to the laser unit 28. The RAM 104 stores image data for each job. That is, image data is stored for each job number (job identification information).

Hereinafter, a plurality of embodiments will be described in which image data stored in the RAM 104 can be re-output.
[1] Description of First Embodiment The operation display unit 42 is provided with a mode switching key for switching the operation mode to the normal operation mode or the re-output mode.

  FIG. 3 shows an operation when the operation mode is switched to the re-output mode by the mode switching key.

  When the operation mode is switched to the re-output mode, whether various setting keys (setting keys for the number of copies, copy magnification, density, etc.) have been operated (step 1) or the start key has been operated (step 2) Is repeatedly determined.

  When various setting keys are operated, the setting contents are stored (step 3). When the start key is operated, the image data for one job stored in the latest past in the RAM 104 is read out, and the copying process is executed based on the currently set contents (step 4). .

When the operation mode is the re-output mode and the mode switching key is operated, the operation mode is changed to the normal operation mode.
[2] Description of Second Embodiment In the second embodiment, image data is stored in the RAM 104 in units of jobs, and additional information regarding the job is stored for each job. The additional information includes the number of documents, the set number of copies, the set copy magnification, the set density, the job execution time, and the like.

  The operation display unit 42 is provided with a mode switching key for switching the operation mode to the normal operation mode or the re-output mode.

  FIG. 4 shows an operation when the operation mode is switched to the re-output mode by the mode switching key.

  When the operation mode is switched to the re-output mode, a selection screen for selecting which job of the image data stored in the RAM 104 is to be re-output is displayed. (Step 11).

  On this selection screen, additional information is displayed for each job number of image data stored in the RAM 104. Based on this additional information, the user inputs a job number corresponding to image data to be re-output.

  When the user inputs a job number based on the selection screen (step 12), whether various setting keys (setting keys for the number of copies, copy magnification, density, etc.) are operated (step 13), or the start key is operated (step 13). Step 14) is repeatedly determined.

  When various setting keys are operated, the setting contents are stored (step 15). When the start key is operated, the image data corresponding to the job number input in step 12 is read from the RAM 104, and the copying process is executed based on the currently set content (step). 16).

When the operation mode is the re-output mode and the mode switching key is operated, the operation mode is changed to the normal operation mode.
[3] Description of the third embodiment The operation display unit 42 is provided with a mode switching key for switching the operation mode to the normal operation mode or the re-output mode, and allows the user to input a search character string. The search character string input key is provided.

  FIG. 5 shows an operation when the operation mode is switched to the re-output mode by the mode switching key.

  When the operation mode is switched to the re-output mode, the search character string input standby state is entered (step 21).

  When a search character string is input using the search character string input key, a job that includes a character string that matches the search character string in the image data among the jobs of the image data stored in the RAM 104. If a job is found that contains a character string that matches the search character string in the image data, the job number is temporarily stored (step 22).

  Searching for a job that includes a character string that matches the search character string in the image data is performed, for example, as follows. That is, the first page of image data of each job stored in the RAM 104 is read for each job, and characters included in the first page of image data read for each job are encoded. Then, it is determined whether or not a character string that matches the search character string is included in the image data by determining whether or not a code string that matches the code string corresponding to the search character string is included. judge.

  Thereafter, it is repeatedly determined whether various setting keys (setting keys for the number of copies, copy magnification, density, etc.) have been operated (step 23) or the start key has been operated (step 24).

  When various setting keys are operated, the setting contents are stored (step 25). When the start key is operated, the image data corresponding to the job number stored in step 22 is read from the RAM 103, and the copying process is executed based on the currently set contents (step 26). ).

When the operation mode is the re-output mode and the mode switching key is operated, the operation mode is changed to the normal operation mode.
[4] Description of Fourth Embodiment The fourth embodiment is suitable for a case where a plurality of original images are included in a job to be executed again.

  The operation display unit 42 is provided with a mode switching key for switching the operation mode to the normal operation mode or the re-output mode.

  FIG. 6 shows an operation when the operation mode is switched to the re-output mode by the mode switching key.

  If the operation mode has been switched to the re-output mode, the document image reading standby state to be re-outputted is set (step 31).

  The original image to be re-output means the original image of the first page of a plurality of original images when the job to be executed again includes a plurality of original images. After the original image to be re-output is set, when the start button is pressed to read the original image to be re-output, the original information read out of each job of the image data stored in the RAM 104 is read. Is retrieved, and if a job is found that contains the read document information in the image data, the job number is temporarily stored (step 32).

  A search for a job including the read document information in the image data is performed, for example, as follows. That is, the first page of image data of each job stored in the RAM 104 is read for each job, and the similarity between the image data of the first page read for each job and the read document image data is calculated. To do. If the similarity is greater than or equal to a predetermined value, it is determined that the read document information is included in the image data.

  Thereafter, it is repeatedly determined whether various setting keys (setting keys for the number of copies, copy magnification, density, etc.) have been operated (step 33) or whether the start key has been operated (step 34).

  When various setting keys are operated, the setting contents are stored (step 35). When the start key is operated, the image data corresponding to the job number stored in step 32 is read from the RAM 104, and the copying process is executed based on the currently set content (step). 36).

When the operation mode is the re-output mode and the mode switching key is operated, the operation mode is changed to the normal operation mode.
[5] Description of Fifth Embodiment The operation display unit 42 is provided with a mode switching key for switching the operation mode to the normal operation mode or the re-output mode, and the job number (job) for the job to be re-output. A job number input key for allowing the user to input (identification information) is provided.

  When a certain job is executed, a job number corresponding to the job is printed on a required portion of the recording paper on which the document image is printed, for example, the back side.

  FIG. 7 shows an operation when the operation mode is switched to the re-output mode by the mode switching key.

  If the operation mode is switched to the re-output mode, the job number input standby state is entered (step 41).

  The user can know the job number of the job to be re-executed based on the job number printed on the back side of the copy paper obtained by performing the copying process in the past. Enter the job number.

  When the job number is input with the job number input key, whether various setting keys (setting keys for the number of copies, copy magnification, density, etc.) have been operated (step 42) or the start key has been operated (step 43) is repeated. Determined.

  When various setting keys are operated, the setting contents are stored (step 44). When the start key is operated, the image data corresponding to the job number input in step 41 is read from the RAM 104, and the copying process is executed based on the currently set contents (step). 45).

  When the operation mode is the re-output mode and the mode switching key is operated, the operation mode is changed to the normal operation mode.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a digital copying machine. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of a control unit. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation procedure when the operation mode is switched to a re-output mode according to the first embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows a 2nd Example and shows the operation | movement procedure when the operation mode is switched to the re-output mode. It is a flowchart which shows a 3rd Example and shows the operation | movement procedure when the operation mode is switched to the re-output mode. It is a flowchart which shows a 4th Example and shows the operation | movement procedure when the operation mode is switched to the re-output mode. It is a flowchart which shows 5th Example and shows the operation | movement procedure when the operation mode is switched to the re-output mode.

Explanation of symbols

42 Operation display unit 101 CPU
102 signal processing circuit 103 ROM
104 RAM

Claims (1)

Reading means for reading the image information of the original, registration means for registering the image information read by the reading means in units of jobs in the storage means, and copying for reading out the image information registered in the storage means in units of jobs and copying it on recording paper In a digital copying machine equipped with means,
An operation mode switching unit for switching between a normal operation mode and a re-output operation mode for re-outputting image information of a desired job unit among image information of a job unit registered in the storage unit;
In the state where the operation mode is switched to the re-output operation mode by the operation mode switching means, the same original as the original used when the image information for each job to be re-output is registered in the storage means is used as the search original. A means for reading the image of the first page of the document for search by the reading means, and a job including the read original information in the image information among the jobs in which the image information is stored in the storage means. After specifying a search means for searching and a job that includes the read document information in the image information, when the start key is operated, the image information for the specified job is read out from the storage means and recorded on the recording paper. Re-copying means to copy,
A digital copier characterized by comprising:

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