JP3774583B2 - Image forming apparatus, image forming method, and storage medium - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, an image forming method, and a storage medium, and in particular, an image forming apparatus that forms and outputs an image on a print sheet based on input image data, and an image applied to the image forming apparatus. The present invention relates to a forming method and a storage medium storing a program for executing the image forming method.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, there is a mixed document mode as one of image forming modes of a copying machine. In this mode, even if a document composed of a plurality of sizes of paper having different lengths in the feed direction (moving direction) but equal in the width direction is placed on the automatic document feeder (DF), it is transported sequentially. Printing is executed according to the size of the printed document.
[0003]
In addition, there is an automatic paper selection function for automatically selecting a paper feed stage in which a print paper having a size matching the image size of the print image is selected from selectable paper feed stages.
[0004]
Further, in a copier having a memory capable of storing input original image data, a print image formed inside the copier based on the original image data cannot be completely printed on a print sheet, but the print image is 90%. There is an auto-rotation function that rotates a print image by 90 ° to form an image on the print paper when the print paper enters the print paper if it is rotated.
[0005]
Here, when the document mixed mode and the automatic paper selection function are set at the same time, the documents composed of a plurality of papers of the same size in the width direction are sequentially placed on the automatic document feeder (DF). When the printing process is performed, an optimum print sheet is automatically selected and printed by the automatic sheet selection function according to the size of the document conveyed on the platen.
[0006]
When the automatic paper selection function and auto rotation function are set at the same time, there is no print image size paper, but the paper that has been rotated 90 degrees is set in the paper feed stage. In this case, the paper feed stage is automatically selected and printing is performed.
[0007]
When the mixed document mode and the auto-rotation function are set at the same time, print processing is sequentially performed on a document composed of a plurality of papers having the same width in the width direction placed on the automatic document feeder (DF). When the printed image of the document conveyed on the platen does not fit on the printing paper selected by the user as it is, the printed image is rotated by 90 ° when it is entered by rotating the printed image by 90 °. Then print.
[0008]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The above-described mixed document mode, automatic paper selection function, and auto rotation function are important techniques for efficient use of the copying machine, and the combination of these functions also promotes efficiency.
[0009]
However, when the document mixed mode, the automatic paper selection function, and the auto rotation function are set at the same time, the following problems may occur. That is, when an original having a plurality of paper sizes having the same length in the width direction and different lengths in the feed direction is set and printed on an automatic document feeder (DF), an image of a certain paper size in the document is printed. However, if there is no paper feed stage of a size that fits the image, but if the image is rotated 90 °, and there is a paper feed stage that matches the rotated image, the paper feed stage is selected by the automatic paper selection function. In this case, the image is printed after being rotated 90 ° by the automatic rotation function. In this case, in a printed output bundle, only some printed sheets have different orientations from other printed sheets, and the user needs to correct the orientation of the printed output bundle again. There was a problem.
[0010]
This problem can be avoided by turning off the auto-rotation function, but the auto-rotation function is not a function that can be cleared by inputting the reset key, unlike the mixed document mode and automatic paper selection function. In order to do this, the user must turn the setting off / on each time the auto rotation function is used.
[0011]
The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and in an image forming apparatus having an original mixed mode, an automatic paper selection function, and an automatic rotation function, when an image is formed in the original mixed mode, an automatic rotation function is provided. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus, an image forming method, and a storage medium that can automatically select a sheet having a size suitable for a document by an automatic sheet selection function even when the item is set.
[0012]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, in an image forming apparatus that forms and outputs an image on a print sheet based on input image data, the document image is converted into image data. Automatic document conveying means for sequentially conveying the document to the image reading position, memory means for storing image data converted from the document, a plurality of paper feed stages for feeding different sizes of printing paper, An automatic paper selection means for selecting a paper feed stage containing a print paper having a size suitable for the image to be formed, and an image based on the image data stored in the memory means. If the image to be formed is not rotated on the print paper of the paper feed stage selected by the automatic paper selection means among the plurality of paper feed stages, the entire image will be entered. In the case where the image to be formed is rotated, the automatic image rotation unit that rotates the formed image and forms the image on the print paper and the automatic document conveyance unit have different lengths in the feed direction but the same length in the width direction. When the document mixed loading mode is set to permit the conveyance of a document composed of a plurality of sizes of paper to the image reading position, the automatic paper selection unit is operated after prohibiting the operation of the automatic image rotation unit. And a control means for making it possible.
[0014]
Claim 2 According to the described invention, the automatic document conveying means for sequentially conveying the document to the image reading position for converting the document image into the image data, the memory means for storing the image data converted from the document, and the prints of different sizes In an image forming method applied to an image forming apparatus having a plurality of paper feed stages for feeding paper, a print paper having a size suitable for an image to be formed is selected from the plurality of paper feed stages. An automatic paper selection step for selecting an input paper feed stage, and an automatic paper selection step among the plurality of paper feed stages when an image is formed on a print paper based on image data stored in the memory means. If the entire image to be formed is not rotated on the print paper of the paper feed stage selected by the above, the formed image is rotated and shaped on the print paper. The automatic image rotation step and the automatic document conveying means permit the conveyance of a document composed of a plurality of sizes of paper having different lengths in the feeding direction but equal in the width direction to the image reading position. And a control step for executing the automatic paper selection step after prohibiting the execution of the automatic image rotation step when the document mixed loading mode is set.
[0016]
Claim 3 According to the described invention, the automatic document conveying means for sequentially conveying the document to the image reading position for converting the document image into the image data, the memory means for storing the image data converted from the document, and the prints of different sizes In a computer-readable storage medium storing an image forming method applied to an image forming apparatus having a plurality of paper feed stages for feeding paper as a program, the image forming method includes the plurality of paper feeding stages. An automatic paper selection step for selecting a paper feed stage containing a print paper having a size suitable for the image to be formed from the paper feed stages, and an image on the print paper based on the image data stored in the memory means. When forming, the image to be formed is rotated on the print paper of the paper feed stage selected by the automatic paper selection step among the plurality of paper feed stages. If the entire image does not enter unless the image is formed, the length in the feed direction is different from the automatic image rotation step of rotating the formed image and forming it on the print paper, and the automatic document feeder. When the document mixed loading mode is set in which the document composed of a plurality of sizes of paper having the same length in the width direction is allowed to be conveyed to the image reading position, the execution of the automatic image rotation step is prohibited, And a control step for executing the automatic paper selection step.
[0017]
Claims 4 According to the invention described above, in an image forming apparatus that forms a read document image on a print sheet, a document having a plurality of sizes having different lengths in the feeding direction but equal in the width direction is conveyed to the image reading position. Automatic document conveying means capable of performing a document mixed loading mode, Memory means for storing image data converted from a document, and image data stored in the memory means Auto-rotating means for performing an auto-rotating function for rotating the printer 90 degrees according to the print paper; Select a paper feed tray that contains print paper of a size that matches the image to be formed from multiple paper feed trays for feeding different sizes of print paper. Automatic paper selection means for performing an automatic paper selection function to select, The automatic paper selection means includes Even if the auto rotation function is set, if the document mixed mode is set, Image data stored in the memory means among the plurality of paper feed stages Have to rotate Have size print paper Feeding tray Except, select a paper source with print paper of a size that matches the image to be formed It is characterized by that.
[0018]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0019]
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0020]
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 100 denotes an image forming apparatus main body. Reference numeral 101 denotes a platen glass as a document table. A scanner 102 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 transmitted through the lens 108 via the scanning mirrors 104 to 106 and is imaged on the image sensor unit (CCD sensor) 109.
[0021]
An exposure control unit 120 includes a laser, a polygon scanner, and the like, and irradiates the photosensitive drum 110 of the image forming unit 126 with laser light 129. The laser beam 129 is converted into an electric signal by the image sensor unit 109 and modulated based on an image signal on which predetermined image processing described later is performed.
[0022]
Around the photosensitive drum 110, a primary charger 112, a developing device 121, a transfer charger 118, a cleaning device 116, and a pre-exposure lamp 114 are provided as components constituting the image forming unit 126. 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). After being charged to a desired potential by the primary charger 112, the photosensitive drum 110 is supplied from the exposure control unit 120. Irradiation with laser light 129 forms 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.
[0023]
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 fed to the main body by the feed rollers 135 and 136 and fed to the transfer belt 130 by the registration rollers 137 to be visualized. The transferred toner image is transferred onto the transfer paper by the transfer charger 118.
[0024]
In 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, the toner image is recharged by the pre-fixing chargers 139 and 140, sent to the fixing device 141, fixed by pressurization and heating, and discharged from the main body 100 by the discharge roller 142. Discharged outside.
[0025]
The main body 100 is equipped with a deck 150 that can store, for example, 4000 transfer sheets. The lifter 151 of the deck 150 is raised according to the amount of transfer paper so that the transfer paper always comes into contact with the paper feed roller 152. A multi-manual feed 153 that can accommodate 100 sheets of transfer paper is also provided.
[0026]
Reference numeral 154 denotes a paper discharge flapper, which switches between a double-side recording side or multiple recording side path and a paper discharge side path. The transfer paper fed 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. Reference numeral 158 denotes a lower conveyance path. The transfer sheet sent from the sheet discharge roller 142 is turned over through the reverse path 155 and guided to the refeed tray 156 to enable duplex recording. Reference numeral 157 denotes a multiple flapper for switching between a double-sided recording path and a multiple recording path. By tilting the multiple flapper to the left, the transfer paper is directly guided to the lower transport path 158 without passing through the reverse path 155, and multiplexed. Enable recording. Reference numeral 159 denotes a paper feed roller that feeds transfer paper to the image forming unit 126 side through a path 160.
[0027]
Reference numeral 161 denotes a discharge roller disposed in the vicinity of the paper discharge flapper 154. The transfer paper switched to the discharge side by the paper discharge flapper 154 is discharged outside the apparatus. During double-sided recording (double-sided copying) or multiple recording (multiple copying), the paper discharge flapper 154 is raised upward and the copied transfer paper is stored in the refeed tray 156 via the lower conveyance path 158.
[0028]
The transfer sheets stored in the re-feed tray 156 are guided one by one from the bottom to the registration rollers 137 of the main body 100 through the path 160 by the feed rollers 159.
[0029]
When the transfer paper is reversed and discharged from the main body 100, the paper discharge flapper 154 is raised upward, the multiple flapper 157 is tilted to the right, and the copied transfer paper is conveyed to the reverse path 155 side. After the end passes through the first feed roller 162, the sheet is conveyed to the second feed roller 162 a side by the reverse roller 163, and the transfer paper is discharged out of the apparatus by the discharge roller 161.
[0030]
Reference numeral 180 denotes an automatic document feeder (DF). From the bundle of documents placed on the document table 181, only one document on the front surface is separated by the paper feed roller 182 and conveyed onto the platen 101 by the document feed roller 164. Thereafter, the document is scanned by the scanner 102 and is discharged to the document discharge table 183 or returned to the document table 181 again.
[0031]
Reference numeral 190 denotes a paper discharge processing device that aligns and binds the transfer paper discharged from the image forming apparatus 100. In the operation unit 172 to be described later, when the sheet bundle post-processing operation such as sorting and stapling is not set, the transfer sheet passes through the conveyance path 194 and is discharged to the sheet discharge tray 191 one by one without passing through the processing tray 193. Is done. When the sheet bundle post-processing operation is set, the transfer sheets that are discharged one by one through the conveyance path 195 are stacked and arranged on the processing tray 193. When the first image forming discharge is completed, the transfer sheet bundle is stapled and discharged to the discharge tray 191 or the discharge tray 192 in a bundle. Note that when the bundled sheet post-processing operation is set, the bundle is basically discharged to the sheet discharge tray 192, but control is performed to switch to the sheet discharge tray 191 depending on conditions such as a full load. The discharge trays 191 and 192 are controlled to move up and down by a motor (not shown), and are moved so that the stacking tray is positioned at the processing tray before the image forming operation is started.
[0032]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a control unit provided in the image forming apparatus 100.
[0033]
A CPU 171 performs basic control of the image forming apparatus 100. A ROM 174 in which a control program is written, 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 includes various load devices (not shown) such as a motor and a clutch controlled by the image forming apparatus 100, and an input device (not shown) to the image forming apparatus 100 such as a sensor for detecting a paper position. It is connected. The CPU 171 sequentially performs input / output control via the input / output port 173 in accordance with the contents of the control program stored in the ROM 174, and executes image forming processing. An operation unit 172 is connected to the CPU 171. The CPU 171 controls display means and key input means of the operation unit 172. The operator instructs the image forming operation mode and display switching to the CPU 171 through the key input means, and the CPU 171 instructs the display means to the operation state of the image forming apparatus 100 and the operation mode set by key input. Is displayed.
[0034]
Further, the CPU 171 is connected to an image processing unit 170 that processes a signal converted into an electrical signal by the image sensor unit 109 and an image memory unit 3 that stores 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.
[0035]
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration of the image processing unit 170 and a device connected to the image memory unit 3.
[0036]
A document 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), subjected to sample & hold, dark level correction, and the like, and then converted into analog / digital conversion (A / D conversion / A / D unit 301). D conversion), and further, shading correction is performed on the digitized signal. In the 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.
[0037]
Thereafter, the log conversion unit 302 performs processing for converting luminance data into 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 uses the look-up table to correspond to the input data. A table value is output, whereby luminance data is converted into density data.
[0038]
After that, the magnification processing unit 303 scales the image to a desired magnification, and 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) that considers the characteristics of the printer. When the density data is output, the gamma correction unit 304 performs conversion using the look-up table, and converts the converted density data into a binarization unit. Send to 305.
[0039]
The binarization unit 305 binarizes the multi-value density data, so that there are only two density values, 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”, thereby reducing the storage capacity of the memory for storing the image data. However, when the image is binarized, the number of gradations of the image is changed from 256 gradations to two gradations. Therefore, in image data with many halftones such as a photographic image, the image is generally significantly deteriorated.
[0040]
Therefore, it is necessary to perform pseudo halftone expression using binarized data. Here, an error diffusion method is used as a method of performing halftone expression in a pseudo manner using binary data. In this method, if the density of an image is greater than a certain threshold, the density data is “255”. If the density is less than a certain threshold, the density data is “0” and binarized, and then the actual density is obtained. The difference between the data and the binarized data is obtained as an error signal and distributed to surrounding pixels. The error distribution is performed by multiplying a weight coefficient on a matrix prepared in advance with an error caused by binarization and adding it to surrounding pixels. As a result, the density average value of the entire image is stored, and the halftone can be expressed in a pseudo binary manner.
[0041]
The binarized image data is sent to the image memory unit 3 and stored therein. Further, 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 includes a page memory 401 composed of a memory such as a DRAM, which will be described later, and a large-capacity memory (hard disk 404) capable of storing a plurality of page image data. . The plurality of image data stored in the hard disk 404 is output in the order corresponding to the editing mode designated by the operation unit 172 of the image forming apparatus 100. For example, in the case of sorting, images of document bundles read from the automatic document feeder (DF) 180 are sequentially output. That is, the image data of the original document once stored is read from the hard disk 404, and this is repeatedly output a plurality of times. Thereby, it can play the same role as a sorter having a plurality of bins.
[0042]
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 data so that the line ends of the binarized image are smooth, and the image data subjected to the interpolation is output to the exposure control unit 120. The exposure control unit 120 forms image data on transfer paper as described above.
[0043]
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the image memory unit 3 and peripheral devices.
[0044]
The image memory unit 3 includes a page memory 401, a memory controller unit 402, an LZ compression unit 403, and a hard disk 404. The memory controller unit 402 writes the binary image sent from the external I / F processing unit 4 and the image processing unit 170 to the page memory 401, reads the image from the page memory 401, and sends it to the printer unit 2. Further, it controls input / output of images performed 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 arbitrates access from the external I / F processing unit 4, the image processing unit 170, and the hard disk 404 to the page memory 401. Further, in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 171, control for determining a write address to the page memory 401, a read address from the page memory 401, a read direction, and the like is performed. Accordingly, the CPU 171 arranges a plurality of document images in the page memory 401 and performs layout, and then outputs a function to the printer unit 2, a function to cut out and output only a part of the image, and a function to rotate the image. Control.
[0045]
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the external I / F processing unit 4 and peripheral devices.
[0046]
The external I / F processing unit 4 takes in binary image data from the reader unit 1 via the image memory unit 3, and also binaries from the external I / F processing unit 4 via the image memory unit 3. Image data is output to the printer unit 2 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, a computer interface unit 503 connected to the external computer 11, a formatter unit 504, and an image memory unit 505. Composed.
[0047]
The facsimile unit 501 is connected to a public line via a modem (not shown), and receives facsimile communication data from the public line and transmits facsimile communication data to the public line. The facsimile unit 501 uses a facsimile image stored in the hard disk 502 for a facsimile function such as sending a fax at a designated time or sending image data in response to an inquiry by a designated password from the other party. Realized. Thus, once the image is transferred from the reader unit 1 to the facsimile unit 501 and the facsimile hard disk 502 via the image memory unit 3, the reader unit 1 and the image memory unit 3 are not used for the facsimile function. Fax transmission can be performed.
[0048]
The computer interface unit 503 is an interface unit that performs data communication with the external computer 11, and includes a local area network (LAN), a serial I / F, a SCSI-I / F, a Centro I / F for data input of a printer, and the like. Have. The status 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. .
[0049]
Also, print image data is 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 an image with the printer unit 2. Convert to data. The formatter unit 504 performs raster image data development on the image memory unit 505.
[0050]
The image memory unit 505 is used not only for the formatter unit 504 as a memory for developing raster image data, but also for sending an image from the reader unit 1 to the external computer 11 (image scanner function). That is, when an 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 developed in the image memory unit 505 and sent to the external computer 11 here. The data is converted into a data format and sent from the computer interface unit 503 to the external computer 11.
[0051]
The core unit 506 controls and manages each data transfer performed between the facsimile unit 501, 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.
[0052]
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.
[0053]
In FIG. 6, reference numeral 621 denotes a power lamp indicating the ON / OFF state of the power source. The power lamp 621 is turned on / off in accordance with the ON / OFF switching of the power supply by the power switch 613. Reference numeral 622 denotes a numeric keypad which is used for setting the number of images to be formed and inputting numerical values for mode setting. On the facsimile setting screen, it is used for inputting a telephone number. Reference numeral 623 denotes a clear key, which is used to clear the setting input with the numeric keypad. Reference numeral 616 denotes a reset key for returning the set number of formed images, an operation mode, a selected paper feed stage, and the like to default values. Reference numeral 614 denotes a start key. When the start key 614 is pressed, an image forming operation is started. In 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.
[0054]
Reference numeral 617 denotes a guide key. When this key is pressed and then another key is pressed, a description of functions that can be set by the key is displayed on the display panel 620. The guide display is canceled by pressing the guide key 617 again. Reference numeral 618 denotes a user setting key. When this key is pressed, the user can change the setting of the image forming apparatus. The setting that can be changed by the user is, for example, the setting of the time until the setting is automatically cleared, the setting of the default value of the mode when the reset key is pressed, or the ON / OFF setting of the auto rotation function described later. is there. Reference numeral 619 denotes 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.
[0055]
Reference numeral 620 denotes a display panel composed of a liquid crystal or the like, and the display content changes according to the setting mode in order to facilitate detailed mode setting. The surface of the display panel 620 is a touch sensor. The display panel 620 in FIG. 6 shows an example of a setting screen for the copy operation mode. In FIG. 6, the keys 624 to 631 are displayed in the display panel 620, and the mode is set by determining that the keys are pressed by touching the positions where these keys are displayed.
[0056]
Reference numeral 627 denotes a paper stage selection key. When this key is pressed, a screen for setting from among the cassettes 131 and 132, the deck 150, and the multi-manual feed 153 is displayed on the display panel 620. Reference numerals 628 to 631 denote keys for setting a copy magnification.
[0057]
Reference numeral 626 denotes an application mode setting key. When this key is pressed, a screen for setting application function modes such as a multiplex operation, a reduced layout mode, and a mixed document mode is displayed on the display panel 620. For example, as shown in FIG. Each application function mode setting key is displayed, and the application mode can be set from this screen.
[0058]
A key 624 in FIG. 6 is a setting key for double-sided operation. For example, “one-both mode” for performing double-sided output from a single-sided original, “both-both mode” for performing double-sided output from a double-sided original, It is possible to select and set three types of duplex modes including “both-single mode” for performing single-side output. Reference numeral 625 denotes a sort key. When this key is pressed, the operation mode of the paper discharge processing apparatus 190 and the output paper sorting mode using the image memory unit 3 can be set.
[0059]
In addition to the normal display, the key in the display panel 620 cannot be operated by setting the display line to a dotted line (shaded) when the mode of the displayed key cannot be set. It has come to express. In the example of FIG. 6, the display unit 633 is provided above the display panel 620 and displays the contents set in the copying operation and the current operation state. A display unit 633a is provided at the upper left of the screen, and displays which screen is in each function mode described later. In the example of FIG. 6, the setting screen for copy A is shown. In the example of FIG. 6, it is indicated by characters, but may be a symbol indicating each.
[0060]
In addition, a display unit 650 is provided below the display panel 620, and operation states of other function modes are displayed in a range that can be displayed in one line. In the example of FIG. 6, the display unit 650 indicates that the operation of outputting copy B to the printer unit is in progress.
[0061]
Next to the application mode key 626 in the display panel 620 are keys 634 and 635 that can be changed by the user. Up to two function keys that can be set on the application mode setting screen can be registered here. By displaying the application mode setting key here, the registered mode can be set more easily.
[0062]
In FIG. 6, reference numerals 601 to 612 denote keys and LED display units for switching display contents of the display panel 620. Reference numerals 601, 604, 607, and 610 are keys for switching each function. These keys are composed of translucent key buttons, and each key has a display lamp (not shown) such as an LED. When these keys are pressed to select an operation function screen, the lamp inside the key lights. The internal lamps in the remaining keys that are not selected are controlled to be turned off.
[0063]
In addition, green LED display portions 603, 606, 609, and 612 are arranged on the right of each key, and these LED display portions indicate the operation status of the corresponding function in the LED lighting state. For example, the LED display unit 606 for copy B is turned off when copy B is on standby, and blinks when copy B is in an output operation as in the example shown in FIG. Further, when the copy B image is stored in the hard disk 404 of the image memory unit 3 and the copy B printing operation is not performed, the light 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 is lit when there is a fax image in the facsimile unit 501 or the hard disk 502.
[0064]
Red LED display portions 602, 605, 608, and 611 are arranged on the left of each key, and these LED display portions turn on the LEDs when a corresponding function is abnormal. For example, the LED display unit 605 for copy B blinks 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 on 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 situation can be confirmed. These function keys 601, 604, 607, and 610 can be pressed at any time regardless of the operation status of each function, and the display on the display panel 620 can be switched.
[0065]
When the copy A function and the copy B function can be switched as in this embodiment, the keys other than the keys in the display panel 620 such as the stop key 615, the start key 614, the reset key 616, etc. The function selected by the switching keys 601 and 604 operates. 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 for the copy B output operation. To stop the copy operation of copy B, it is necessary to press the stop key 615 after pressing the copy B function key 604. The data set by the user setting key 618 is valid on each of the copy A function screen and the copy B function screen, and the setting operation can be performed independently on each screen.
[0066]
In FIG. 7 showing a screen on which setting keys for each application function mode are displayed, a key 701 is an original mixed mode key, and the original mixed mode setting is turned on / off each time the key is pressed once.
[0067]
Processing related to the original mixed mode will be described below.
[0068]
As described above, the document placed on the document table 181 of the automatic document feeder (DF) 180 is separated only by the uppermost one of the unprocessed documents by the paper feed roller 182, and the platen 101 is conveyed. At this time, the length of the document in the feeding direction is detected by a sensor (not shown) on the conveyance path. On the other hand, the length of the document in the width direction is detected by the distance between document guides (not shown) on the document table 181 for aligning the edges of the document.
[0069]
When the document mixed mode is set, the automatic document feeder (DF) 180 detects the document size every time the document is conveyed one by one. Then, a document bundle composed of documents of a plurality of sizes set in the automatic document feeder (DF) 180 and having the same length in the width direction but different in the length in the feed direction is sequentially transported according to the size of the document. Print processing is performed.
[0070]
Next, the auto rotation function will be described.
[0071]
As described above, the image data flow is such that the image data of the original image read by the CCD sensor 109 is stored in the image memory unit 3, and then the image data is read from the image memory unit 3 and sent to the printer unit 2 for printing. It becomes the flow of doing.
[0072]
Here, when sending the image data to the printer unit 2, the CPU 171 compares the size when the image data on the page memory 401 is printed with the size of the paper set in the paper feed stage of the print paper. Do. When the paper size is M × N and the image size is m × n, when (M <N) and (m> n), (m> M) and (n <M) and (m If <N), and if (M> N) and (m <n), if (n> N) and (m <N) and (n <M), then from the page memory 401 When the image data is read, it is rotated 90 ° by the memory controller 402 and read. Thereby, the entire area of the image data can be printed on the printing paper. The function of the CPU 171 as described above is an auto rotation function. A specific example of the auto rotation function will be described with reference to FIG.
[0073]
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the document image data is rotated by the automatic rotation function. Reference numeral 801 denotes an original image, 802 denotes a print sheet, and the original image 801 is rotated by 90 °, whereby the original image 801 is output to the print sheet 802 without being lost.
[0074]
Next, the automatic paper selection function will be described.
[0075]
The automatic paper selection function is a function for selecting a paper feed stage on which a paper of an optimum size is set for image data in the page memory 401 from selectable paper feed stages.
[0076]
In the procedure for selecting the paper feed stage, if the auto rotation function is not set, the image size of the image data in the page memory 401 is first obtained. Then, a plurality of paper feed stages having a size larger than the image size are selected from the selectable paper feed stages, and further, a paper feed stage having the minimum size is selected. If there are a plurality of paper feed stages of the same size at that time, the paper feed stage with the shorter distance from the paper feed stage to the registration roller 137 is selected with priority. When 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 the setting of the cover / interleaf mode unless the auto-rotation function is set.
[0077]
On the other hand, if the auto rotation function is set and the cover / interleaf mode is set, first the image size after rotation is obtained. Then, a plurality of paper feed stages having a size larger than the rotated image size are first selected from the selectable paper feed stages, and the paper feed stage having the minimum size is selected among them. Further, a plurality of paper feed stages having a size larger than the image size when not rotating is selected from the selectable paper feed stages, and the smallest paper feed stage is selected among them. Then, the size of the paper feed stage selected based on the rotated image size is compared with the size of the paper feed stage selected based on the image size when the image is not rotated. Select a stage. As a result of the comparison, if the sizes are the same, the paper feed stage selected based on the image size when not rotating is selected. Thus, if there is a sheet in the finally selected sheet feed tray, the optimum sheet feed tray is determined.
[0078]
However, here, there is no paper in the final selected paper source, and the final selected paper source is the paper source selected based on the image size when it does not rotate, and the auto rotation function Is set, and the size of the paper feed stage selected based on the image size after rotation is the same as the size of the paper feed stage finally selected, and if there is paper, the rotated image The paper feed stage selected based on the size is newly determined as the optimum paper feed stage.
[0079]
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 the smallest paper feed stage among a plurality of paper feed stages larger than the image size among the paper feed stages with paper. In this case, the operation unit 172 indicates what is the optimum size. To display.
[0080]
By the way, in the embodiment of the present invention, even when the auto rotation function is set, when the document mixed mode is set, the automatic paper selection function selects the paper feed stage in which the document image must be rotated from the selection candidates. except. As a result, the original image is rotated, so that only a part of the printed papers have a different orientation from that of other printed papers, and the user does not need to change the orientation of the printed output bundle again. Such processing will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0081]
9 to 12 are flowcharts showing the procedure of automatic paper selection processing executed by the CPU 171.
[0082]
In step S901, the CPU 171 first obtains the image size of the print image. Next, the setting state of the auto rotation is discriminated (step S902), and if the auto rotation is set, the image size of the image obtained by rotating the print image by 90 ° is also acquired (step S903). If auto-rotation is not set in step S902, or after execution of step S903, in step S904, as the candidate of the paper feed stage for feeding the optimum size paper, the feed distance from the registration roller 137 is the longest. Set the paper tray. Next, a paper feed stage whose distance from the registration roller 137 is next to the optimum size candidate paper feed stage is selected (step S905). When step S905 is executed again via step S915, the paper feed stage with the longest distance from the registration roller 137 is selected from among the unselected paper feed stages.
[0083]
The paper size of the selected paper feed tray, the paper size of the paper feed tray of the optimum size candidate, and the image size of the print image are compared (step S906). As a result, when the paper size of the selected paper feed stage is equal to the paper size of the paper feed stage of the optimum size candidate (step S907), or the paper size of the selected paper feed stage is larger than the print image size. If the paper size is larger and the paper size of the selected paper feed stage is smaller than the paper size of the paper feed stage of the optimum size candidate (step S908), the selected paper feed stage is re-supplied to the optimum size candidate. A paper tray is set (step S914).
[0084]
In other cases, the mixed document mode is not set (step S909), and if auto rotation is set (step S910), the image size obtained by rotating the print image by 90 ° and the optimum size candidate are set. The paper size obtained by rotating the paper in the paper feed stage by 90 ° is compared with the paper size in the selected paper feed stage (step S911). As a result, if the paper size of the selected paper feed stage is equal to the paper size obtained by rotating the paper of the optimum size candidate paper feed stage by 90 ° (step S912), or the paper size of the selected paper feed stage Is larger than the rotation print image size and the paper size of the selected paper feed stage is smaller than the rotation paper size of the paper feed stage of the optimum size candidate (step S913), the optimum size compensation is performed. Is updated to the selected paper feed tray (step S914).
[0085]
After the execution of step S914, or when the mixed document mode is set in step S909, or when the auto rotation is not set in step S910, it is determined whether the check has been completed for all paper feed stages ( Step S915) If the check has not been completed, the process returns to step S905 to continue the processing. If all the paper feed stages have been checked in step S915, it is checked whether there is a sheet in the finally selected optimum paper feed stage (step S916), and the automatic paper selection process is terminated. If there is no paper in the optimum paper feed stage in step S916, the process proceeds to step S1001 in FIG. 11 to select the second candidate.
[0086]
11 and 12 are flowcharts of processing for selecting the second optimum paper feed stage in the automatic paper selection processing.
[0087]
In the optimum paper feed stage selection phase of FIGS. 9 and 10, acquisition of the image size of the print image and acquisition of the image size of the image obtained by rotating the print image by 90 ° when auto rotation has been set. In step S1001, a paper feed stage that is farthest from the registration roller 137 is set as a paper feed stage candidate for feeding the second optimum size paper. Next, a paper feed stage whose distance from the registration roller 137 is next to the second optimum size candidate paper feed stage is selected (step S905). When step S1002 is executed again via step S1012, the paper feed stage with the longest distance from the registration roller 137 is selected from among the unselected paper feed stages.
[0088]
In step S1003, it is determined whether or not a sheet exists in the selected paper feed stage. If there is no sheet, the process proceeds to a determination section as to whether or not the check has been completed for all the paper feed stages (step S1013). If there is paper in the paper feed stage in step S1003, the image size of the print image is compared with the paper size of the paper feed stage of the second optimum size candidate and the paper size of the selected paper feed stage ( In step S1004), when the paper size of the selected paper feed stage is equal to the paper size of the paper feed stage of the second optimum size candidate (step S1005), or the paper size of the selected paper feed stage is larger than the print image size, If the paper size of the selected paper feed stage is smaller than the paper size of the paper feed stage of the second optimum size candidate (step S1006), the selected paper feed stage is changed to the second optimum size candidate paper feed stage. (Step S1012).
[0089]
In other cases, the mixed document mode is not set (step S1007), and if the auto rotation is set (step S1008), the image size obtained by rotating the print image by 90 ° and the second optimum The paper size obtained by rotating the paper of the candidate paper feed stage by 90 ° is compared with the paper size of the selected paper feed stage (step S1009), and the paper size of the selected paper feed stage and the second optimum size candidate are compared. If the paper size of the paper feed stage rotated by 90 ° is equal (step S1010), or the paper size of the selected paper feed stage is larger than the rotated print image size and the paper size of the selected paper feed stage If the paper size is smaller than the rotation paper size of the second optimum size candidate paper feed stage (step S1011), the selected paper feed stage is changed to the second optimum size candidate paper feed stage. Step S1012).
[0090]
After the execution of step S1012, or when the document mixed mode is set in step S1007, or when the auto rotation is not set in step S1008, it is determined whether the check has been completed for all paper feed stages ( In step S1013), if the check has not been completed, the process returns to step S1002 to continue the process. If all the paper feed stages have been checked in step S1013, the final selected optimal size paper is displayed on the display panel 620 (step S1014), and a second candidate for automatic paper selection. The selection process ends.
[0091]
As described above, even when the auto-rotation function is set, when the mixed document mode is set, the automatic paper selection function allows the original image to be displayed as shown in step S909 in FIG. 10 and step S1007 in FIG. The paper feed stage that must be rotated is excluded from the selection candidates. As a result, the original image is rotated, so that only a part of the printed papers have a different orientation from that of other printed papers, and the user does not need to change the orientation of the printed output bundle again.
[0092]
Instead of such an example form, when the mixed document mode and the automatic paper selection function are set, the automatic rotation function is temporarily turned off, so that the automatic paper selection function requires the image rotation to be performed. May be avoided from being selected.
[0093]
In this alternative embodiment, the automatic paper selection process is realized by a procedure excluding step S909 in FIG. 10 and step S1007 in FIG. 12, but when both the automatic paper selection function and the original mixed mode are set. Since the automatic rotation function is turned off, the result of the automatic paper selection process is the same as that in the above embodiment shown in FIGS.
[0094]
The present invention may be applied to a system constituted by a plurality of devices or an apparatus constituted by one device.
[0095]
In addition, a storage medium storing software program codes for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus, and a computer code (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus is stored in the storage medium. It goes without saying that the present invention can also be achieved by reading and executing.
[0096]
In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.
[0097]
As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, CD-R, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM, or the like can be used.
[0098]
Further, by executing the program code read by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also an OS running on the computer performs actual processing based on an instruction of the program code. Needless to say, the present invention includes a case where the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized by performing part or all of the processing.
[0099]
Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written to a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function expansion is performed based on the instruction of the program code. Needless to say, the present invention includes a case where the CPU or the like provided in the board or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.
[0100]
【The invention's effect】
As described above in detail, according to the invention described in claim 1, claim 2 or claim 3, even if the automatic paper selection function and the auto rotation function are newly turned on, the document is set as the print mode of the apparatus body. When the mixed loading mode is set, a mechanism is provided to ignore the auto rotation function setting. As a result, when the document mix mode is set with the automatic paper selection function turned on, There is no need to change the paper orientation of the print output bundle .
[0101]
Claims 4 According to the present invention, when the document mixed loading mode and the automatic paper selection function are set in the means for setting the auto rotation function, Image data stored in memory means among multiple paper feed stages Have to rotate Have size print paper Feeding tray Except , Select a paper source with print paper of a size that matches the image being formed A mechanism to do this was established. As a result, when the mixed document mode is set while the automatic paper selection function is set, the automatic paper selection function selects a paper feed stage that feeds paper in the same direction as the set original. Therefore, the original image is rotated, so that only some printed papers have different orientations from other printed papers, and the user does not need to work again to change the paper orientation of the printed output bundle. .
[0102]
Thus, in an image forming apparatus having an original mixed mode, an automatic paper selection function, and an automatic rotation function, when an image is formed in the original mixed mode, the size suitable for the original is set by the automatic paper selection function even when the automatic rotation function is set. The paper can be selected automatically. That is, when an image is formed in the mixed document mode, the user can automatically select a sheet having the optimum size for the document by the automatic sheet selection function without turning off the auto rotation function.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a control unit provided in the image forming apparatus.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration of an image processing unit and a device connected to the image memory unit.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration of an image memory unit and peripheral devices.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration of an external I / F processing unit and peripheral devices.
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a detailed configuration of an operation unit for setting a copying operation of the image forming apparatus.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a screen of a display panel on which setting keys for each application function mode are displayed.
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a state in which document image data is rotated by an automatic rotation function.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of automatic paper selection processing executed by a CPU.
10 is a flowchart continued from FIG. 9 showing the procedure of automatic paper selection processing executed by the CPU.
11 is a flowchart continued from FIG. 10 showing the procedure of automatic paper selection processing executed by the CPU.
12 is a flowchart continued from FIG. 11 showing the procedure of automatic paper selection processing executed by the CPU.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Reader section
2 Printer section
3 Image memory (memory means)
4 External I / F processor
100 Image forming apparatus main body
109 CCD sensor
131 Upper cassette (paper feed tray)
132 Lower cassette (paper feed tray)
150 decks (paper feed tray)
170 Image processing unit
171 CPU (automatic paper selection means, automatic image rotation means, control means)
172 Operation unit
173 I / O port
174 ROM
175 RAM
180 Automatic document feeder (DF, automatic document feeder)
181 Document table
182 Paper feed roller
183 Document delivery stand
301 A / D conversion / SH part
302 log converter
303 Scaling processing unit
304 γ correction unit
305 binarization unit
306 Smoothing part
401 page memory
402 Memory controller
403 LZ compression unit
404 hard disk
501 Facsimile part
502 hard disk
503 Computer interface section
504 Formatter section
505 Image memory section
506 Core part

Claims (4)

In an image forming apparatus that forms and outputs an image on a print sheet based on input image data,
Automatic document conveying means for sequentially conveying the document to the image reading position in order to convert the document image into image data;
Memory means for storing image data converted from a document;
A plurality of paper feed trays for feeding different sizes of print paper;
Automatic paper selection means for selecting a paper feed stage containing a print paper having a size suitable for an image to be formed from the plurality of paper feed stages;
When an image is formed on a print sheet based on the image data stored in the memory unit, the image is formed on a print sheet in a sheet feed stage selected by the automatic sheet selection unit among the plurality of sheet feed stages. Automatic image rotating means for forming the image on the print paper after rotating the formed image when the entire image does not enter unless the image to be rotated is rotated;
A document mixed loading mode is set for the automatic document conveying means for allowing a document composed of a plurality of sizes of papers having different lengths in the feeding direction but equal in the width direction to the image reading position. And a control means for operating the automatic paper selection means after prohibiting the operation of the automatic image rotation means. Automatic document conveying means for sequentially conveying the document to the image reading position for converting the document image into image data, memory means for storing the image data converted from the document, and for feeding print paper of different sizes In an image forming method applied to an image forming apparatus having a plurality of paper feed stages,
An automatic paper selection step of selecting a paper feed stage containing print paper of a size suitable for the image to be formed from the plurality of paper feed stages;
When forming an image on a print sheet based on the image data stored in the memory means, the image is formed on the print sheet of the sheet feed stage selected by the automatic sheet selection step among the plurality of sheet feed stages. An automatic image rotation step for forming the image on the print paper after rotating the formed image when the entire image does not enter unless the image to be rotated is rotated;
A document mixed loading mode is set for the automatic document conveying means for allowing a document composed of a plurality of sizes of papers having different lengths in the feeding direction but equal in the width direction to the image reading position. And a control step for executing the automatic paper selection step after prohibiting the execution of the automatic image rotation step. Automatic document conveying means for sequentially conveying the document to the image reading position for converting the document image into image data, memory means for storing the image data converted from the document, and for feeding print paper of different sizes In a computer-readable storage medium storing an image forming method applied to an image forming apparatus having a plurality of paper feed stages as a program,
The image forming method includes:
An automatic paper selection step of selecting a paper feed stage containing print paper of a size suitable for the image to be formed from the plurality of paper feed stages;
When forming an image on a print sheet based on the image data stored in the memory means, the image is formed on the print sheet of the sheet feed stage selected by the automatic sheet selection step among the plurality of sheet feed stages. An automatic image rotation step for forming the image on the print paper after rotating the formed image when the entire image does not enter unless the image to be rotated is rotated;
A document mixed loading mode is set for the automatic document conveying means for allowing a document composed of a plurality of sizes of papers having different lengths in the feeding direction but equal in the width direction to the image reading position. And a control step for executing the automatic paper selection step after prohibiting the execution of the automatic image rotation step. In an image forming apparatus that forms a read document image on a print sheet,
Automatic document conveying means capable of performing a document mixed loading mode for conveying documents of a plurality of sizes having different lengths in the feeding direction but having the same length in the width direction to the image reading position;
Memory means for storing image data converted from a document;
Auto-rotating means for performing an auto-rotating function of rotating image data stored in the memory means by 90 degrees in accordance with print paper;
Automatic paper selection means for performing an automatic paper selection function for selecting a paper feed stage containing a print paper of a size suitable for the image to be formed from a plurality of paper feed stages for feeding print paper of different sizes And
The automatic paper selection means must rotate the image data stored in the memory means among the plurality of paper feed stages when the auto document loading mode is set even if the auto rotation function is set. An image forming apparatus , wherein a paper feed stage having a print paper of a size suitable for an image to be formed is selected, except for a paper feed stage having a print paper of a size that must be printed .

Images