JP3802083B2 - Image recording device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
[Industrial application fields]
The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, and a facsimile apparatus, and more particularly to an image recording apparatus that performs processing for inserting a slip sheet between sheets after image recording.
[0002]
[Prior art]
For example, when copying and binding a manuscript in a copying machine, a blank sheet or colored paper called a slip sheet may be inserted between the recording sheets on which the manuscript is copied so that chapter breaks can be easily identified. Has been done.
[0003]
For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-11077 describes a slip sheet processing apparatus that inserts slip sheets between OHP sheets every predetermined number when copying from a double-sided document or a single-sided document to an OHP sheet. However, the slip sheet processing apparatus described in the publication discloses how to insert a slip sheet when an image is formed on both sides of a recording sheet because the target to insert the slip sheet is an OHP sheet. It has not been.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Some copiers are capable of double-sided copying and insert slip sheets. In such copiers, a single-sided original or a double-sided recording paper is created from a double-sided original, In some cases, slip sheets are inserted into predetermined pages. For example, when a book is copied and bound, it is necessary to insert a slip sheet between the recording sheets on which the document is copied so that chapter breaks can be easily identified. In such a case, the slip sheet processing apparatus described in the above publication cannot be dealt with.
[0005]
Therefore, the present invention is characterized in that when a recording sheet for double-sided recording is created from a single-sided original, a double-sided original, or an electronic original, a slip sheet can be inserted into an arbitrary page.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the image recording apparatus of the present invention scans a document sequentially fed by an automatic document feeder and records it on the front side of the recording paper, and then reverses the recording paper and records it on the back side. The image recording apparatus sequentially records the read original image and inserts a slip sheet between the recording sheets, and includes a paper feed tray for storing the recording paper and a paper feed tray for storing the slip sheet. A plurality of paper feed trays, page number input means for inputting page numbers into which slip sheets are to be inserted, page number storage means for storing page numbers input by the page number input means, and an automatic document feeder. Count means for counting the number of pages of the document that are sequentially sent, and a comparison means for comparing the count value of the count means with the page number stored in the page number storage means Front and back discriminating means for discriminating whether the surface of the recording paper to be recorded next is the front surface or the back surface, and sequentially recording the read document image on the front and back surfaces of the recording paper taken out from the paper feed tray, Control means for controlling to discharge the slip sheet taken out from the paper feed tray for storing the slip sheet following the recorded recording sheet when the count value matches the page number by the comparison means; , the surface of the recording paper to be recorded next by the front and rear surfaces discriminating means when said count value by said comparing means and said page number has been matched, if the surface of the read original image only the surface of the recording sheet And a control means for recording and discharging the read original image on the back side of the recording paper .
[0007]
[Action]
If the page into which the slip sheet is to be inserted is after one-sided recording, the image of the next page cannot be recorded on the opposite side of the one-sided sheet. If the page into which the slip sheet is to be inserted is after double-sided recording, it is separated from the image of the next page, so the slip sheet is fed as it is. As a result, slip sheets can be inserted into arbitrary pages.
[0008]
【Example】
Hereinafter, the features of the present invention will be specifically described based on examples with reference to the drawings.
[0009]
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a schematic configuration of a copying machine to which an image recording apparatus of the present invention is applied.
[0010]
In the copying machine shown in FIG. 1, a platen glass 2 on which a document is placed is arranged on the upper surface of a copying machine main body 1, and an image reading system 3 and an image recording system 5 having a belt photoreceptor 4 below the platen glass. Is arranged. The copying machine 1 is provided with an upper paper feed tray 6-1, a middle paper feed tray 6-2, and a lower paper feed tray 6-3. An inverter 8 and a double-sided tray 9 are arranged in the paper transport system 7 for transporting the recording paper in each paper feed tray. Further, a user interface 10 having a display, operation keys and the like is attached to the upper part of the copying machine 1, and an automatic double-sided document feeder 11 is attached on the platen glass 2.
[0011]
Documents to be copied are fed one by one to a predetermined position on the platen glass 2 by the automatic double-sided document feeder 11, and the image of the document is scanned by the image reading system 3 that moves along the lower surface of the platen glass 2. . The reflected light from the original is once converted into an image signal by an image sensor in the image reading system 3 and subjected to predetermined image processing, and then supplied to a raster output scanner. The laser beam from the raster output scanner is a photosensitive member. 4 is irradiated.
[0012]
The image recording system 5 records an image by, for example, an electrophotographic method. As is well known, a charging device, an exposure device, a developing device, a transfer device, a cleaning device, etc. (Not shown) are sequentially arranged.
[0013]
The surface of the photoconductor 4 is uniformly charged by a charging device and exposed to light corresponding to the image of the original, and an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the original image is formed on the surface of the photoconductor 4. The electrostatic latent image is developed with toner in a developing device to generate a toner image. In synchronism with the generation of the toner image, the recording paper is conveyed from the paper feed trays 6-1, 6-2, 6-3 or the double-sided tray 9 through the path A in the direction of the transfer portion T of the photosensitive member 4, and is subjected to photosensitivity. The toner image on the body 4 is transferred onto a recording sheet by a transfer device (not shown), and a toner image corresponding to the original image is recorded on the recording sheet. Further, the toner remaining on the photoconductor after the transfer is removed by a cleaning device (not shown), and is prepared for the next image forming cycle.
[0014]
The recording paper after one-side recording passes through the fixing device 12 through the path B, and the toner image is fixed on the recording paper. The recording paper after fixing is discharged out of the apparatus through the path C in the case of single-sided recording. In the case of double-sided recording, the recording paper after fixing is sent to the inverter 8 through the path D and is turned over, and then sent to the double-sided tray 9 through the path E.
[0015]
The recording paper in the double-sided tray 9 is sent in the direction of the transfer portion T of the photosensitive member 4 in the same manner as the recording paper from the paper supply trays 6-1, 6-2, 6-3, but the front and back are reversed. The image on the back side of the document is transferred to the back side. After the transfer, the double-sided recording paper passes through the fixing device 12 again through the path B, and the toner image on the back surface is fixed, and is then discharged out of the apparatus.
[0016]
In a normal copying operation, sheets of different sizes are stored in the sheet feeding trays 6-1, 6-2, and 6-3, respectively. 6-1 and 6-2 are used as interleaving trays. In these paper feeding trays 6-1 and 6-2, sheets of different colors to be interleaving paper are stored, and the paper feeding trays 6-3 store them. A recording sheet on which an image of a document is recorded is stored.
[0017]
FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram showing an electric circuit in the copying machine shown in FIG.
[0018]
The control unit 21 responds to an instruction from the user interface unit 22 (corresponding to the user interface 10 in FIG. 1), an automatic duplex document feeding unit 23 (corresponding to the automatic duplex document feeding unit 11), and an image reading unit 24 (image scanning). Corresponding to the system 3), the operation of the image processing device 25 and the image forming unit 26 (corresponding to the image recording system 5). A large capacity storage device 27 is connected to the image processing device 25. The control unit 21 is controlled by a microcomputer, for example, and includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), etc., as is well known.
[0019]
The image signal from the document reading unit 24 is supplied to the image processing unit 25 and subjected to predetermined image processing, and then supplied to the image forming unit 26 to obtain an image corresponding to the document image on the recording paper. Further, the image data of the original read by the image reading unit 24 is accumulated in the mass storage device 27 as necessary.
[0020]
FIG. 3 is a front view showing the user interface 10. On the front part 31 of the user interface 10, a CRT display 32 is disposed as a display device, and various operation keys such as a numeric key 33, a start key 34, and a function selection key 35 are disposed.
[0021]
FIG. 4 shows an example of a slip sheet insertion window displayed on the CRT display 32 when the slip sheet insertion mode is selected in the user interface 10. A transparent touch screen is provided on the front surface of the CRT display 32. By touching a predetermined portion of the display surface of the CRT display 32 with a finger, information corresponding to the touched position can be input. The page display unit 41 displays the page number into which the slip sheet is inserted. When the page key is input with the numeric keypad 33 of the user interface shown in FIG. 3 and then the setting key 42 is pressed, the input page number is controlled. The page number is stored in a predetermined RAM of the unit 21 and the page number is displayed in the first frame of the insertion page number display unit 43. Similarly, the page number input and setting operations are repeated. The example of FIG. 4 shows a state in which pages 3, 5, 10, and 15 are set as insertion pages. When the page after page key 44 is pressed, a slip sheet is inserted after each page. The slip-sheet tray selection keys 45a and 45b are used to select the color of slip-sheets to be inserted. 2), a desired color slip sheet can be selected. The slip sheet tray selection key 45c is used to select a sheet from a tray (for example, a sheet feed tray 6-3) in which copy sheets are stored as a slip sheet.
[0022]
Note that the same page can be specified multiple times as an insertion page. This is effective when a plurality of blank sheets are inserted as memo sheets after a specified page. If a nonexistent page is designated, a message to that effect is displayed and the slip sheet processing is not performed.
[0023]
Next, a slip sheet insertion process in the above-described copying machine will be described. Consider a case where a double-sided copy is created from a single-sided document D1 to D6 as shown in FIG. In this case,
(1) Reading the first original D1 → Recording on the front surface of the first recording paper P1 (2) Reading the second original D2 → Recording on the back surface of the first recording paper P1 (3) First Recording paper P1 discharge (4) Reading of the third original D3 → Recording on the surface of the second recording paper P2 (5) Reading of the fourth original D4 → Recording on the back surface of the second recording paper P2 (6 (2) Ejection of second recording paper P2 (7) Reading of the fifth original D5 → Recording on the front surface of the third recording paper P3 (8) Reading of the sixth original D6 → To the back surface of the third recording paper P3 (9) Document reading, image recording, and recording paper discharge are sequentially performed as in the third recording paper P3 discharge, and three-sided copies P1 to P3 as shown in FIG. Is obtained.
[0024]
Further, when making a double-sided copy from double-sided originals D1 to D3 as shown in FIG.
(1) Front side reading of first original D1 → Recording on front side of first recording paper P1 (2) Back side reading of first original D1 → Recording on back side of first recording paper P1 (3) 1 Discharging the first recording paper P1 (4) Reading the front side of the second original D2 → Recording on the front side of the second recording paper P2 (5) Reading the back side of the second original D2 → To the back side of the second recording paper P2 (6) Second recording paper P2 discharge (7) Front side reading of the third original D3 → Recording on the front side of the third recording paper P3 (8) Back side reading of the third original D3 → Third Recording on the reverse side of the recording paper P3 (9) Three-sided copies P1 to P3 as shown in FIG. 6A are obtained by the process of discharging the third recording paper P3 as shown in FIG. It is done.
[0025]
Next, consider the case of creating a double-sided copy while inserting a slip sheet from a single-sided original as shown in FIG. Here, it is assumed that the slip sheet is inserted after one page and three pages of the document. In this case,
(1) Reading the first original D1 → Recording on the surface of the first recording paper P1 (2) Discharging the first recording paper P1 (3) Discharging the first slip sheet S1 (4) Second original D2 → Recording on the front surface of the second recording paper P2 (5) Reading the third original D3 → Recording on the back surface of the second recording paper P2 (6) Discharging the second recording paper P2 (7) 2 (8) Reading the fourth original D4 → Recording on the front surface of the third recording paper P3 (9) Reading the fifth original D5 → Recording on the back surface of the third recording paper P3 (10) discharge of the third recording paper P3 (11) reading of the sixth original D6 → recording on the surface of the fourth recording paper P4 (12) discharging of the fourth recording paper P4 Image recording, recording paper discharge, and slip sheet insertion are sequentially performed as shown in FIG. 4 copies of the slip sheet is inserted after the after and 3 on page 1 is obtained.
[0026]
The same applies to the case of making a double-sided copy while inserting a slip sheet from a double-sided document, and the description thereof will be omitted. However, when a slip sheet is inserted after an odd page of a document as described above, a single sheet is originally required. Since continuous pages that should be printed on the front and back of the recording paper straddle one recording paper, when forming an image on the recording paper, the original is single-sided or double-sided, or The order in which images are formed on the recording paper differs depending on various copying conditions such as what page the slip sheet is inserted into.
[0027]
Therefore, in this embodiment, an appropriate copy can be obtained in any case by forming an image and discharging a recording sheet in an appropriate order according to various copying conditions.
[0028]
Hereinafter, processing under each condition will be described.
[0029]
7 and 8 show flowcharts of the slip sheet processing in the case of creating a double-sided copy from a single-sided original. It is assumed that the page number into which the slip sheet is to be inserted has been input from the user interface 10 in advance.
[0030]
When the start key 34 of the user interface 10 is pressed (step 101), the slip sheet insertion page number is transferred to the RAM table (step 102). Note that this table may use an area different from the area for storing the slip sheet insertion page number input from the user interface 10 in the RAM area. Next, “1” representing the first surface is set to the variable CopySide indicating the copy surface of the recording paper, and “0” is set to the document page number (step 103). Next, it is determined whether or not the document page number matches the slip sheet insertion page number stored in the table. If they match, the slip sheet is fed from the slip sheet tray (paper feed tray 6-1 or 6-2). Is discharged out of the machine. The document page number can be known by counting the number of documents sent from the automatic duplex document feeder 11 onto the platen glass 2 with a counter. Next, the slip sheet insertion page number is deleted from the table on the RAM (step 106).
[0031]
If the original page number does not coincide with the slip sheet insertion page in step 104, the automatic double-side original feeder 11 feeds one original onto the platen glass 2 (step 107), and increments the original page number by 1 (step 108). ). Next, it is determined whether the original page number matches the slip sheet insertion page (step 109). If they do not match, the copy side is determined (step 110). When CopySide = 1, that is, the first side, a single-sided copy is made and discharged to the duplex tray 9 (step 111), and CopySide is set to “2”. If CopySide ≠ 1, that is, the second side, double-sided copy is made and ejected outside the apparatus (step 114), and CopySide is set to "1" (step 115). Next, after the document on the platen glass 2 is discharged (step 113), it is determined whether or not there is a subsequent document. If there is no subsequent document, the process is terminated. If there is a subsequent document, the process returns to step 107. The presence / absence of a subsequent document can be known by a document sensor provided in the automatic duplex document feeder 11.
[0032]
If the manuscript page number matches the slip sheet insertion page in step 107,
The copy side is discriminated (step 117). If it is the first side, a single-sided copy is taken and ejected outside the apparatus (step 118). If it is the second side, a duplex copy is taken and ejected outside the machine ( In step 119), CopySide is set to "1" (step 120). Next, the slip sheet is sent out from the slip sheet tray and discharged out of the apparatus (step 121), and the slip sheet insertion page number is deleted from the table on the RAM (step 122). Next, it is determined whether the original page number and the slip sheet insertion page match. If they match, the process returns to step 121. If they do not match, the process jumps to step 113.
[0033]
FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 show a flowchart of the slip sheet processing in the case of creating a duplex copy from a duplex document. Steps corresponding to those in FIGS. 7 and 8 are denoted by the same reference numerals. This flowchart is similar to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, but after step 107, “1” representing the first surface is set in the variable DocSide indicating the copy surface of the document (step 201). And the point that the processing is switched according to the value of this variable DocSide. That is, the surface of the document is discriminated (step 202). When DocSide = 1, that is, the first surface, the document on the platen glass 2 is reversed by the automatic duplex document feeder 11 and set on the platen glass 2 again. (Step 203) After setting DocSide to “2” (Step 204), the process returns to Step 108.
[0034]
In the above-described embodiment, the automatic duplex document feeder 11 sets the documents one by one on the platen glass 2 for copying. However, the automatic duplex document feeder 11 and the image reading system 3 are provided in advance. The image reading unit 24 reads the images of all pages of the document and stores them as image data in a large-capacity storage device 27 connected to the image processing device 25. When the image is formed, the large-capacity storage device It is also possible to read out image data of a predetermined document page from 27 and form images on the recording paper in an arbitrary order by the image forming unit 26 based on the image data.
[0035]
FIG. 11 and FIG. 12 show a flowchart in the case of making a double-sided copy in a copying machine in which the image data of a document is stored in the mass storage device 27 as described above. Steps corresponding to those in FIGS. 7 and 8 are denoted by the same reference numerals. This flowchart is similar to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, but after step 102, all the originals are read by the image reading unit 24, and page numbers are assigned to the image data of each page in the order of reading. The difference is that the image data is read out from the mass storage device 27 for one page (step 302).
[0036]
In the above embodiment, the slip sheet insertion page is input from the user interface 10, but a separator sheet indicating the page in which the slip sheet is to be inserted is inserted between the originals. It is also possible to detect the presence or absence of a separator and insert a slip sheet at that position. Separation sheets are detected by changing the size and color of the separation sheet from that of the recording sheet as described in JP-A-1-177766 and JP-A-4-86759, and automatic duplex document feeding. This can be done by a paper sensor provided in the apparatus 11.
[0037]
FIG. 13 shows a flowchart in the case where the slip sheet insertion page is set by the separator sheet in this way. Steps corresponding to those in FIGS. 7 and 8 are denoted by the same reference numerals. This flowchart is similar to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, but instead of determining whether the document page number matches the slip-sheet insert page, it is determined whether the document is a separator sheet. Step 401), and when the separator sheet is detected and the copy surface of the recording paper is the second side at this time, the single-sided copy in the double-sided tray 9 is discharged out of the apparatus (Step 402), and CopySide is set to “ 1 ”(step 403), the difference is that the slip sheet is fed out from the slip sheet tray and discharged out of the apparatus (step 404).
[0038]
As described above, when setting a slip sheet insertion page using a separator sheet, it is not necessary for the user to count and input the page into which the slip sheet is to be inserted into the user interface 10, so that the operation for inserting the slip sheet is very much. There is an advantage that it becomes easy.
[0039]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to easily insert a slip sheet even when creating a double-sided copy.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a schematic configuration of a copying machine to which an image recording apparatus of the present invention is applied.
FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram showing an electric circuit in the copying machine shown in FIG.
FIG. 3 is a front view showing a user interface.
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a slip sheet insertion window displayed on a user interface.
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a single-side original and a double-side original to be copied.
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a copy in which a normal copy and a slip sheet are inserted.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart of slip-sheet processing when a double-sided copy is created from a single-sided original.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart following FIG.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a slip sheet process when a duplex copy is created from a duplex document.
FIG. 10 is a flowchart following FIG. 9;
FIG. 11 is a flowchart of slip-sheet processing when a double-sided copy is created in a copier of a type that stores image data of a document in a mass storage device.
FIG. 12 is a flowchart following FIG. 11;
FIG. 13 is a flowchart for setting a slip sheet insertion page using a separator sheet.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Copier main body, 2 ... Platen glass, 3 ... Image reading system, 4 ... Photoconductor, 5 ... Image recording system, 6-1, 6-2, 6-3 ... Paper feed tray, 7 ... Paper conveyance system, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 8 ... Inverter, 9 ... Duplex tray, 10 ... User interface, 11 ... Automatic duplex document feeder, 12 ... Developing device, 21 ... Control part, 22 ... User interface circuit, 23 ... Automatic duplex document feeder, 24 ... Image reading , 25 ... Image processing unit, 26 ... Image forming unit, 27 ... Mass storage device, 31 ... Front part, 32 ... CRT display, 33 ... Numeric keypad, 34 ... Start key, 35 ... Function selection key, 41 ... Page display , 42 ... setting key, 43 ... insertion page number display section, 44 ... key after each page, 45a, 45b, 45c ... slip-sheet tray selection key

Claims (5)

By scanning a document sequentially fed by an automatic document feeder and recording it on the front side of the recording paper, the recording paper is reversed and recorded on the back side of the recording paper, whereby the read document images are sequentially recorded and recorded. An image recording apparatus for inserting slip sheets between paper,
A plurality of paper feed trays including a paper feed tray for storing recording paper and a paper feed tray for storing interleaving paper;
Page number input means for inputting the page number into which the slip sheet is to be inserted;
Page number storage means for storing the page number input by the page number input means;
Counting means for counting the number of pages of the document sequentially fed by the automatic document feeder;
Comparing means for comparing the count value of the counting means with the page number stored in the page number storage means;
Front and back discriminating means for identifying whether the surface of the recording paper to be recorded next is the front side or the back side;
The read original image is sequentially recorded on the front and back surfaces of the recording paper taken out from the paper feed tray. If the count value matches the page number by the comparing means, the recording paper is followed. Control means for controlling to discharge the slip sheet taken out from the sheet feed tray for storing the slip sheet, and when the count value matches the page number by the comparison means, then the surface of the recording paper to be recorded,
Control means for recording and discharging the read original image only on the front side of the recording paper if it is the front side, and recording and discharging the read original image on the back side of the recording paper if it is the back side An image recording apparatus. The page number storage means stores a plurality of the same page numbers,
2. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit continuously discharges the plurality of slip sheets when there are a plurality of the same page numbers in the page number storage unit. Means for designating a paper feed tray for storing recording paper as a paper feed tray for storing interleaving paper,
3. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording sheet is discharged as a blank sheet as a blank sheet. The originals sequentially scanned by the automatic document feeder are scanned and recorded on the front side of the recording paper. Then, the recording paper is reversed and double-sided recording is performed on the back side of the recording paper. An image recording apparatus for inserting a slip sheet between
A plurality of paper feed trays comprising a paper feed tray for storing recording paper and a picture paper tray for storing interleaving paper;
Separator detection means for detecting the presence or absence of a separator inserted between documents to indicate a page into which a slip sheet is to be inserted;
Front and back discriminating means for identifying whether the surface of the recording paper to be recorded next is the front side or the back side;
The read original image is sequentially recorded on the front and back surfaces of the recording paper to be recorded next, and when the separator paper is detected by the separator paper detection means, the slip paper is removed from the paper feed tray that stores the slip paper. Control means for controlling to take out and eject the recording paper when the separator paper is detected by the separator paper detection means, and when the recording paper surface to be recorded next by the front and back surface discrimination means is the back surface, An image recording apparatus comprising: control means for discharging a recording sheet on which recording has been performed, discharging the slip sheet, and discharging the slip sheet as it is in the case of the front surface . An image recording apparatus that records images sequentially by recording the image on the front side of the recording sheet and then reverses the recording sheet and records the image on the back side of the recording sheet, and inserts a slip sheet between the recording sheets. A plurality of paper feed trays including a paper feed tray for storing recording paper and a paper feed tray for storing slip sheets;
Page number input means for inputting the page number into which the slip sheet is to be inserted;
Page number storage means for storing the page number into which the inserted slip sheet is to be inserted; image data storage means for storing image data to be recorded in units of pages;
Image data reading means for sequentially reading image data from the storage means for each page;
Counting means for counting the number of pages of the image read by the reading means;
Comparing means for comparing the count value of the counting means with the page number stored in the page number storage means;
Front and back discriminating means for identifying whether the surface of the recording paper to be recorded next is the front side or the back side;
The images read by the image data reading means are sequentially recorded on the front and back surfaces of the recording paper, and when the count value matches the page number by the comparing means, the slip sheet is continued from the recorded recording paper. Control means for discharging the interleaving paper taken out from the paper feed tray storing paper, and when the count value matches the page number by the comparison means, the front and back discriminating means records next. An image recording apparatus comprising: control means for recording and discharging the read original image only on the surface of the recording paper if the surface of the recording paper to be processed is the front surface.

Images