JP3715221B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a double-sided printable image forming apparatus, and more particularly, to images forming device that can be saved paper to create a document duplex printing from simplex documents.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, from the viewpoint of environmental problems and effective use of resources, various copiers often perform double-sided printing in order to reduce the amount of paper used. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-244407 describes an example of an image forming apparatus capable of double-sided printing, and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-193383 describes a method for controlling double-sided printing.
[0003]
Also, from the standpoint of document organization, duplex printing is advantageous in that filing workability is improved and space for organization is reduced compared to single-sided printing. The trend toward double-sided printing is prominent.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, this has not been taken into consideration in the past, but when making a double-sided original, double-sided printing from a single-sided original to a new recording sheet is performed and only the double-sided printed matter is stored. As a result, there was a problem that the original single-sided original was wasted paper.
[0005]
In particular, in this case, if the original that is printed on one side is an important document, the remaining one side cannot be used. But there was a problem.
[0006]
Further, in this case, it is possible to print one-sided originals without wasting them by operating the originals one by one, but such operations are complicated and are not actually executed. I think that the.
[0007]
The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, the conventional is possible the same single-sided and double-sided printing, images that can also be printed on the back side of the document that is printed on one side only An object is to provide a forming apparatus.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In the present invention, means for solving the above-described problems are configured as follows.
[0009]
(1) Automatic document conveying means (ADF) for conveying a read original to the original reading section, original reading means (scanner) for reading the conveyed original, printing means for printing image information, and feeding of recording paper to the printing means In an image forming apparatus having a paper means and a paper discharge means for discharging recording paper after printing to the outside, the original conveyed by the ADF is conveyed to the printing means by only conveying the original without being read by the scanner. And a step of reading the conveyed document with the scanner, and by printing another document read by the scanner on the back side of the document, the one-sided document is converted into a two-sided document. It is characterized by that.
[0010]
According to this configuration, when a single-sided printed document is changed to double-sided printing, information on another single-sided document is printed on the back side of a document that has already been printed on one side, thereby saving printing paper. At the same time, it can save printing.
[0011]
Furthermore, by printing another document on the back side of the document, it is possible to print and store an important document such as a seal or a signature on both sides in the form of a base paper.
[0012]
(2) The ADF includes a normal first document discharge unit that discharges the read document, and a second document discharge unit that transports the document conveyed by the ADF to the printing unit, and A branching means for selecting the second document discharge section is provided.
[0013]
According to this configuration, by providing the branching means in the ADF, it becomes possible to easily switch the discharge destination different from the normal document discharge destination, and to the printing means for converting the single-sided original into the double-sided original. Transport is possible.
[0014]
(3) A document discharged from the discharge unit to make the single-sided document into a double-sided document is discharged onto a manual sheet feeding unit of the sheet feeding unit.
[0015]
If the manual paper feed unit is selected as the document discharge destination from the ADF as in this configuration, it is not necessary to change the configuration of the conventional copying machine, which is convenient.
[0016]
(4) The single-sided document ejected on the manual sheet feeding unit is fed to the pickup roller for manual sheet feeding by a pull-in roller disposed in the manual sheet feeding unit.
[0017]
According to this configuration, by providing the attracting roller, it is possible to reliably catch the document fed to the manual sheet feeding unit and transport it to the printing unit.
[0018]
(5) It has a single-sided printing mode for printing using paper stored in the paper feeding means, a double-sided printing mode, and a plurality of modes for printing on the back side of the document read by the ADF. .
[0019]
As in this configuration, it is convenient if a single copying machine can use the conventional single-sided and double-sided printing modes in addition to the printing mode for the back side of the original in the present invention.
[0020]
(6) In the mode in which the number of copies is a part, among the plurality of documents conveyed from the ADF, the odd-numbered document conveyed does not read image information, and the single-sided document is converted to a double-sided document. The second document discharge section is discharged onto the manual sheet feed section, and the image information of the even-numbered document is read by the scanner.
[0021]
According to this configuration, when the number of copies is a part, reading of half of the original on one side can be omitted, and printing is performed on the back side of the original, so that printing effort is also omitted. I can do it.
[0022]
(7) The odd-numbered original document guided from the manual paper feed unit to the printing unit prints image information of an even-numbered original document, which is one more than the number of the original document conveyed, on the back side of the original document. And
[0023]
With this configuration, the page order of the printed document can be aligned. In addition, high-speed printing is possible.
[0026]
( 8 ) The odd-numbered original document printed on both sides is discharged to a paper discharge tray of the paper discharge means, and the even-numbered original document after being read by the scanner is printed via the manual paper feeder. After passing through the printing unit without being discharged, the sheet is discharged to a discharge tray different from the odd-numbered sheets of the discharge unit.
[0027]
As in this configuration, if the even-numbered document is discharged to a different discharge tray from the odd-numbered document on which both sides are printed, it is convenient when binding the document on which both sides are printed. At the same time, it is convenient when reusing even-numbered documents.
[0028]
( 9 ) In the mode in which the number of copies is two or more, the odd-numbered original is printed on the recording paper fed from the paper feeding means and stored in the intermediate tray, and then the odd-numbered original is conveyed to the printing means. When the even-numbered original is printed on the back side of the odd-numbered original, and then the even-numbered original is printed on the recording paper stored in the intermediate tray, the printing is performed according to the sixth to eighth aspects. It is characterized by.
[0029]
According to this configuration, even when the number of print copies is two or more, it is convenient that the same configuration can be used by performing the same operation as when the number of print copies is a part.
[0030]
(1 0 ) Instead of the ADF, a manual operation by an operator is enabled.
[0031]
According to this configuration, the present invention can also be applied to a small image forming apparatus that does not include an automatic document feeder.
[0032]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0033]
Figure 1 is a sectional view showing the overall structure of images forming apparatus 1, images forming apparatus 1, ADF (Automatic Document Feeder) unit (hereinafter, ADF hereinafter) 2, an optical reading unit (document reading unit, a scanner) 3 and a printing unit (printing means) 4. The ADF 2 is an automatic document transport mechanism. When a document (not shown) is stacked on the document table 5, the document is transported to the document reading unit 6 one by one by a document reading start signal.
[0034]
The conveyed document is temporarily stopped on the platen glass 13 disposed on the optical reading unit 3 including the light source 7, the mirrors 8 to 10, the lens 11, and the reflection mirror 12, and is scanned by the optical reading unit 3. The image information on the original is read. The document that has been read in this way is conveyed on the platen glass 13, discharged to a document discharge unit (first document discharge unit) 14 disposed on the upper surface of the ADF 2, and stacked on the document discharge table 15.
[0035]
The read image information is visualized by a printing process described below. First, the photoconductor 17 constituting the printing process, the charging unit 18 and the developing unit 19 arranged around the photoconductor 17 make initial adjustments for printing (removal of residual developer on the photoconductor, removal of residual potential). After that, the charging unit 18 imparts a charge to the photoconductor 17, and then image information is recorded on the photoconductor 17 as an electrostatic latent image by irradiation from the LSU unit 16. Thereafter, the developer adheres to the electrostatic latent image in the developing unit 19, whereby the image information is visualized on the photoconductor 17, and further moves to the transfer unit 20 as the photoconductor 17 rotates.
[0036]
At the same time, in the printing unit 4, depending on the timing at which the document is conveyed to the document reading unit 6, the printing paper feeding unit (paper feeding unit) 21 disposed below the printing unit 4 or the side of the printing unit 4 is provided. A sheet of paper (not shown) is picked up by a pick roller 23 from a manual feed tray (manual paper feed unit) 22 and is conveyed by a PS roller 24. At this time, the paper that has been transported to the PS roller 24 is unloaded from the PS roller 24 at the timing when the leading edge of the image visualized on the photoreceptor 17 is aligned with the leading edge of the paper, and is transferred onto the paper by the transfer charger of the transfer unit 20. The developer is transferred to.
[0037]
The sheet on which the developer has been transferred passes through a fixing unit 25 configured by a heat roller disposed in the conveyance path 32 of the printing unit 4 so that the powdery developer is fused and fixed on the sheet. Then, the paper is discharged from a discharge port 27 to a discharge tray portion 28 via a discharge roller (discharge means) 26.
[0038]
A switchback conveyance path (sub-conveyance path) 33 is provided below the conveyance path 32 for printing on the back surface, and the sheet to be carried out to the sheet discharge tray section 28 is discharged from the discharge roller 26. And then reversely fed to the switchback conveyance path 33 by the switching claw 34, and then reversed and conveyed to the PS roller 24.
[0039]
Such double-sided printing possible features of Honga image forming apparatus 1, in particular, the conveyance path of the original discharge portion 14 of ADF2 indicated by the arrow in the upper right figure 1 is, it is possible to increase the point that branches in two directions . In order to explain this point in detail, FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the document discharge portion 14.
The Honga image forming apparatus 1 which is formed as the ordinary one-side printing, not only a printing mode duplex printing, and a printing mode for the back side of the document (G). That is, when the original (G) printed on one side is changed to double-sided printing, the apparatus 1 prints information on another single-sided original on the back side of the original (G) on which one side is already printed. Thus, the printing paper can be saved (separately, printing paper is not required), and at the same time, the printing mode can be saved without much printing.
[0040]
As shown in FIG. 2, in the apparatus 1, the document discharge unit 14 is provided with a branch claw (branch unit) 29 for selecting a document discharge destination. When the branching claw 29 is directed in the direction B (downward) in the figure, the document read by the ADF 2 is discharged to the document discharge table 15 as usual, but the branching claw 29 is in the direction A (upward) in the figure. 2, the document (G) is discharged from the second document discharge unit 31 to the upper part of the manual feed tray 22 outside the apparatus, and is dropped and fed onto the manual feed tray 22 as shown in FIG. 2. become.
[0041]
Incidentally, aside from such a dropping method, although not shown, for example, a conveyance path for guiding and conveying a document read by the ADF 2 to the manual feed tray 22 may be provided. For example, the conveyance path is formed in a curved shape (clockwise in the state of FIG. 2) downward from the second document discharge unit 31 (to eliminate paper jam) and has a closed cross-sectional shape that can be opened and closed. If it is configured to be connected (removably) to the upper part (opening) of the manual feed tray 22, the document can be reversed during the conveyance process, and can be directly carried into the printing unit 4 and printed on the back surface. Further, by providing a conveyance roller (calling roller) on the connection opening side of the manual feed tray 22, the document reversing operation (and calling operation) can be easily and reliably performed.
[0042]
In the case of the drop method described above, the manual feed tray 22 is provided with a call-in belt 30 as shown in FIG. 3, and the call-in belt 30 with respect to the dropped paper (original (G)) By rotating clockwise, the paper is fed to the pickup roller 23 of the manual feed tray 22.
[0043]
The incoming belt 30 can be configured as follows, for example. That is, one end of the swing frame 301 is pivotally supported inside the frame main body 41 of the printing unit 4, and the driving roller 302 is provided at one end (pivot end) of the swing frame 301. A driven roller 303 is rotatably supported on the other end on the free end side, and an endless belt 304 is stretched between the rollers 302 and 303, and the driving roller 302 is rotated forward and backward. The drive roller 302 is connected to one end of the swing frame 301 through a clutch (not shown) so as to be freely connected.
[0044]
With such a configuration, the incoming belt is activated by connecting the clutch (fixing the driving roller 302 and the swinging frame 301) and starting the motor 305 in anticipation of the timing when the document (G) falls on the manual feed tray 22. 30 is rotated from the position of the solid line to the position of the broken line (clockwise in the figure), the other end is pressed against the upper surface of the document (G), the clutch is disconnected, and the endless belt 304 is rolled in the direction of the arrow. Thus, the document (G) can be reliably carried (called) into the pickup roller 23.
[0045]
The analog image forming apparatus 1 formed in this way has a print mode for the back side of the document (G) as well as the normal single-sided printing and double-sided printing modes. That is, when the original (G) printed on one side is changed to double-sided printing, the apparatus 1 prints information on another single-sided original on the back side of the original (G) on which one side is already printed. Thus, the printing paper can be saved (separately, printing paper is not required), and at the same time, the printing mode can be saved without much printing.
[0046]
In the following, it will be described how the printing mode for the back side of the document is realized.
[0047]
The operation for partially creating a double-sided document will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS.
At the start of document printing, a print request is made in Step 1, and the document is placed on the document placing table 5 of the ADF 2 in the next Step 2. Subsequently, in Step 3, it is determined whether or not the printing mode for the original is a single-sided printing mode for single-sided printing.
[0048]
If it is single-sided printing, it proceeds to the single-sided printing mode of Step 4 and below, and single-sided printing is performed as usual, and if it is not single-sided printing, it proceeds to Step 8 to determine whether the printing mode is the double-sided printing mode. The
[0049]
In the normal single-sided printing mode of Step 4, first, the branching claw 29 of the document discharge section 14 is rotated in the direction B in FIG. In Step 5, the original is read and printed for normal single-sided printing. In Step 6, the printed paper is discharged to the paper discharge tray unit 28.
[0050]
In Step 7, it is determined whether or not there is a next document. If there is a next document, the process returns to Step 5 to perform normal processing, and if there is no next document, the processing ends.
[0051]
In Step 8 when it is determined that the printing mode is not single-sided, it is determined whether or not the printing mode is double-sided. If the printing mode is the double-sided printing mode, the process proceeds to the next Step 9; It is determined again whether or not the print mode is single-sided printing.
[0052]
In Step 9, it is determined whether or not the double-sided printing mode is normal double-sided printing on a recording sheet on which one side has not been printed yet. The 14 branch claws 29 are rotated in the B direction, and the normal double-sided printing operation in Step 11 and below is performed. If it is determined that the normal double-sided printing is not performed, the process proceeds to Step 14.
[0053]
In the case of a normal double-sided mark, in Stepl, the original is read and printed for double-sided printing, and in Step 1, the printed paper is discharged to the paper discharge tray unit 28, and in Step 3, whether the next original is present. If there is a next document, the process returns to Step 11 to perform normal document processing again. If there is no next document, the process ends.
[0054]
In Step 4 when it is determined that the printing is not normal duplex printing, it is determined whether or not the printing mode is the duplex printing mode using the back side of the original document according to the present invention. If so, the process proceeds to the next Step 5. If not, the process returns to Step 9 again to determine whether or not the printing mode is the normal duplex printing mode.
[0055]
In the normal printing mode, it is determined whether there is a next document by processing one by one, but if it is determined that the duplex printing mode using the back side of the document is referred to in the present invention, the odd-numbered sheet Are processed in pairs as even-numbered pairs to determine whether there is a next document.
[0056]
In Step 5, the branching claw 29 of the document discharge unit 14 is rotated in the A direction. In the next Stepl 6, an odd-numbered document passes through the branching claw 29 part through the paper conveyance path of the ADF 2 and the second document discharge unit. From 31, as shown in FIG. 2, the paper is discharged to the top of the manual feed tray 22.
[0057]
In the next Step 7, the paper feed unit of the manual feed tray 22 conveys the supplied odd-numbered original document to the PS roller 23 by the pull-in belt 30 shown in FIG. .
[0058]
In Stepl 8, even-numbered originals are automatically read using ADF2 as in the normal print mode. Subsequently, in Step 9, the printing unit 4 performs printing processing of the read information on the even-numbered original document to the back surface of the odd-numbered original document.
[0060]
In Step 20, the odd-numbered document on which the even-numbered information is already printed on the back side is discharged to the first discharge tray 281. In Step 21, since the branching claw 29 of the document discharge unit 14 is in the A direction in the ADF 2, the read even-numbered document is discharged to the upper portion of the manual feed tray 22. At this time, for example, the even-numbered original can be discharged to the original discharge table 15 of the ADF 2 by moving the branching claw 29 or the like.
[0061]
In the next Step 22, the first paper discharge tray 281 from which the odd-numbered originals have already been discharged moves, the second paper discharge tray 282 is guided to the discharge port 27, and in Step 23, the even-numbered originals are read. The paper is discharged from the manual feed tray 22 to the second paper discharge tray 282 via the printing unit 4 without being subjected to printing processing.
[0062]
Next, in Step 24, it is determined whether or not there is a next original. If there is a next original, the first paper discharge tray 281 is guided to the discharge port 27 in Step 25, and then the process returns to Step 5 and again the back side of the original. Is printed, and if there is no next document, the process ends.
[0063]
Next, the operation for printing two copies of a double-sided document starts from loading even-numbered documents whose back side is only white according to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 on the manual feed tray.
[0064]
Next, the odd-numbered originals on which double-sided printing has been completed in FIGS. 4 and 5 are stacked on the ADF 2 with the page order aligned. Printing is performed using the odd-numbered originals (on the ADF) and the even-numbered originals (on the manual feed tray) prepared in this order.
[0065]
At this time, the image information of the odd-numbered original is printed on the back side of the even-numbered original when read by the optical system, but when the discharge is completed in the printed state, the front and back (page order) of the printed matter is displayed. It will not be aligned.
[0066]
Accordingly, the even-numbered originals for which printing has been completed are discharged to the paper discharge tray in a state where the front and back sides are reversed using the switchback function of the printing process.
[0067]
Further, even if the odd-numbered original from which the image information in the original is read is discharged to the original discharge section 14 of the ADF 2 by the branching claw 29 arranged in the ADF 2, the apparatus uses the manual paper supply section 22 of the apparatus. It is obvious that the paper can be discharged by any method whether it is discharged to the second paper discharge tray 282.
[0068]
According to the above configuration, when a single-sided printed document is changed to double-sided printing, information on another single-sided document is printed on the back side of the document on which one-sided printing is already performed. In addition to savings, it can save a lot of printing effort.
[0069]
【The invention's effect】
As apparent from the above description, the present invention has the following effects.
[0070]
According to the first aspect, since the original conveyed by the ADF is carried into the printing means and another original read by the original reading means is printed on the back surface of the original, the single-sided original is converted into a double-sided original. By printing the information of another single-sided document on the back side of the document on which one side is already printed, it is possible to save printing paper and at the same time save printing.
[0071]
Furthermore, by printing another document on the back side of the document, it is possible to print and store an important document such as a seal or a signature on both sides in the form of a base paper.
[0072]
According to the second aspect, by providing the branching means in the ADF, it becomes possible to easily switch the discharge destination different from the normal document discharge destination, and to the printing means for converting the single-sided original into the double-sided original. Can be transported.
[0073]
According to the third aspect, since the original discharged from the discharge means is discharged onto the manual paper feed portion of the paper supply means, it is not necessary to change the configuration of the conventional copying machine, and the double-side original can be obtained. Convenient.
[0074]
According to the fourth aspect, since the leading edge of the document is fed to the pickup roller for manual sheet feeding by the attracting roller disposed in the manual sheet feeding unit, the document can be surely captured and conveyed to the printing unit.
[0075]
According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the printer has a single-sided printing mode for printing using the paper stored in the paper feeding means, a double-sided printing mode, and a plurality of modes for printing on the back side of the document read by the ADF. In a single copying machine, the conventional single-sided and double-sided printing modes can be used in addition to the printing mode for the back side of the document according to the present invention, which improves convenience.
[0076]
According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, in the mode in which the number of copies is a part, among the plurality of documents conveyed from the ADF, the odd-numbered document conveyed does not read the image information, and the one-sided document is converted into the two-sided document. Therefore, since the image information of the even-numbered original is read by the scanner, reading of half of the original on one side is omitted. In addition, since printing is performed on the back side of the original surface, the labor of printing can be omitted.
[0077]
According to the seventh aspect, the odd-numbered original document guided from the manual paper feeding unit to the printing unit prints the image information of the even-numbered original document, which is one more than the number of the conveyed original documents, on the back side of the original document. The page order of the printed manuscript can be made uniform. In addition, high-speed printing is possible.
[0079]
According to the eighth aspect , since the even-numbered document is discharged to a different discharge tray from the odd-numbered document on which both sides are printed, it is convenient when binding the document on which both sides are printed. This is also convenient when reusing even-numbered documents.
[0080]
According to the ninth aspect , even when the number of print copies is two or more, the operation is the same as that when the number of print copies is a part.
[0081]
According to claim 1 0, instead of the ADF, so to allow manual operation by the operator, without the automatic document feeder, even in a small image forming apparatus, the present invention can be applied, improving the convenience To do.
[Brief description of the drawings]
1 is a configuration explanatory diagram of the images forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of the configuration of the main part.
FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the main part.
FIG. 4 is a part of a flowchart when a part of a double-sided original is created from the single-sided original.
FIG. 5 is the remainder of the flowchart.
[Explanation of symbols]
1- images forming device 2 the automatic document feeding unit (ADF)
3-Original reading means (scanner)
4-printing unit 14-first document discharge unit 21-feed unit 22-manual feed unit 26-discharge unit 29-branch unit 31-second document discharge unit

Claims (10)

An automatic document feeder (ADF) that conveys a read document to a document reader, a document reader (scanner) that reads the conveyed document, a printing unit that prints image information, a paper feed unit that conveys recording paper to the printing unit, In an image forming apparatus having a paper discharge means for discharging recording paper that has been printed to the outside,
A step of conveying the original conveyed by the ADF to the printing unit only by conveying the original without reading the original by the scanner, and a step of reading the original by the scanner.
By printing another document read by the scanner to the back surface of the document, images forming device characterized in that the one-sided document in double-sided document. The ADF includes a normal first document discharge unit that discharges the read document, and a second document discharge unit that transports the document conveyed by the ADF to the printing unit, and includes first and second documents. images forming apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that a branching means for selecting a document discharge portion of. The document discharged from the discharge means, images forming device according to claim 2, characterized in that it is discharged onto the manual sheet feeder of the paper feed means to said simplex document to duplex document. The single-sided document ejected on the manual sheet feeding unit is fed to the pickup roller for manual sheet feeding by a pull-in roller disposed in the manual sheet feeding unit . images forming device. 2. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a single-sided printing mode for printing using the paper stored in the paper feeding unit, a double-sided printing mode, and a plurality of modes for printing on the back side of the document read by the ADF. to images forming apparatus according to any one of 4. In the mode in which the number of copies is partial, the odd-numbered document conveyed among the plurality of documents conveyed from the ADF does not read the image information, and the first document for converting a single-sided document into a double-sided document is used. It is discharged from the second document discharge section to the manual paper feed unit on the image information of even-numbered original images forming apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that the reading is performed by the scanner. The odd-numbered original document guided from the manual sheet feeder to the printing unit prints image information of an even-numbered original document, which is one more than the number of originals conveyed, on the back side of the original document. images forming apparatus according to claim 6. The odd-numbered original document printed on both sides is discharged to the paper output tray of the paper output means, and the even-numbered original document after being read by the scanner is not printed via the manual paper feeder. after passing through the printing unit, images forming device according to claim 7, characterized in that it is discharged to different paper discharge tray and the odd-numbered of said paper discharge means. In the mode in which the number of print copies is two or more, after the odd-numbered original is printed on the recording paper fed from the paper feeding means and stored in the intermediate tray, the odd-numbered original is conveyed to the printing means, print the even-numbered original on the back of the eye document, then, when printing the even-numbered original on a recording sheet stored in the intermediate tray, characterized that you print according to claim 6 or 7 images forming apparatus according to claim 5,. Instead of the ADF, images forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein allowing manual operation by the operator.

Images