JP4630585B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a facsimile, and more particularly to a technique for preventing forgetting to remove a document and printed paper after the operation of the apparatus is completed.

  Conventionally, after the operation of the image forming apparatus is completed, it is detected that the user has left the apparatus or the original remains on the copying table even though the user has changed to prevent the user from forgetting to remove the original. Discloses and proposes an image forming apparatus that notifies a user that a document has been forgotten by a voice message (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Similarly, in Patent Document 1, in order to prevent forgetting to remove the copied paper, after the operation of the apparatus is completed, the copied paper is placed in the discharge tray or the sorter even if the user leaves the apparatus or the user is replaced. An image forming apparatus has been disclosed and proposed in which, when it is detected that the image remains, a voice message notifies the user that there is a forgotten removal of the copied paper.
JP 2000-201245 A

  Certainly, with the image forming apparatus having the above-described configuration, it is possible to prevent forgetting to remove a document or copied paper after the operation of the image forming apparatus is completed.

  However, in Patent Document 1, even if the user does not forget to take a document, but is temporarily away from the device, a similar voice message is output without being distinguished from when the user has completely left or replaced the device. For this reason, it was impossible to determine whether the voice message was temporarily away from the user or when the user completely left or changed. In addition, the user who is temporarily away from the apparatus receives an impression that he / she has forgotten to take the document, and the user who is temporarily away from the apparatus is not considered.

  In view of the above-described problems, the present invention provides a case where the user is temporarily separated from the apparatus in the notification for preventing forgetting to remove the document or the printed paper after the operation of the apparatus is completed, and the user completely An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of performing different notifications depending on whether the person has left or changed.

  In order to achieve the above object, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a document fetching unit that captures a document image and generates image data, a document detection unit that detects the presence or absence of a document in the document capture unit, An image forming unit that outputs an image to a sheet based on the image data, a sheet discharge unit that is a sheet discharge destination of a sheet on which an image is formed by the image forming unit, and an image formed sheet of the sheet discharge unit A sheet detecting means for detecting presence / absence, and a user detecting means for detecting a user's leaving or alternation from the device, the detection result of the document detecting means, the sheet detecting means and the user detecting means, If there is a document, no image-formed paper, and a user leaving or replacing the device, the first notification strength is used to notify that the document has been forgotten. , If the image-formed paper is present, and the user has left or replaced the device, the second notification strength is weaker than the first notification strength, or the document is forgotten to be removed, or It may be configured to have a notifying means for notifying that the document and the image-formed sheet are forgotten.

  Further, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention is based on a document capture unit that captures a document image and generates image data, a document detection unit that detects the presence or absence of a document in the document capture unit, and the image data An image forming unit that outputs an image to a sheet, a sheet discharge unit that is a sheet discharge destination of a sheet on which an image is formed by the image forming unit, and a sheet detection that detects the presence or absence of an image-formed sheet in the sheet discharge unit And a user detection means for detecting a user leaving or changing from the apparatus, and detection results of the original detection means, the paper detection means, and the user detection means are, respectively, no original and image formation. If there is already used paper and if the user has left or replaced the device, the first notification strength is used to notify that the imaged paper has been forgotten. If there is only paper and if the user has left or replaced the device, the user may forget to remove the image-formed paper with a second notification strength that is weaker than the first notification strength, or In addition, it is preferable to have a notifying means for notifying that the document and the image-formed paper are forgotten.

  In addition, the notifying unit of the image forming apparatus having the above-described configuration outputs sound, and changes at least one of the content, volume, sound length, and sound quality of the sound output. Therefore, the first notification strength and the second notification strength may be changed.

  Further, the notifying unit of the image forming apparatus having the above configuration performs visual output, and changes at least one of contents, hue, lightness, and saturation of the visual output. Therefore, the first notification strength and the second notification strength may be changed.

  As described above, with the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, it is possible to prevent forgetting to remove a document or copied paper after the operation of the apparatus is completed, and to prevent forgetting to remove a document or printed paper. In the notification, it is possible to perform different notifications when the user who has used the device temporarily leaves the device and when the user has completely left or replaced, It is possible to determine whether the notification is for the case.

  Hereinafter, a case where the present invention is applied to a copying machine will be described as an example. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the main part of a copying machine according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view schematically showing the structure of the main part of the copying machine according to the present invention. As shown in both figures, the copying machine 1 of the present embodiment automatically conveys a document with a central processing unit 10 (hereinafter referred to as a CPU [Central Processing Unit] 10) that controls the operation of the entire apparatus. A document take-in unit 11 that takes in an image of a prepared document and generates image data, an operation display unit 12 including operation means (such as a numeric keypad and a touch panel) and a display means (such as a liquid crystal display), and a sheet based on the image data An image forming unit 13 (including a print unit 131 including a printer head and a photosensitive drum, and a fixing unit 132 for fixing the image output obtained by the print unit 131 to a sheet), and an image forming unit A sheet feeding unit 14 that feeds paper 13, a ROM [Read Only Memory] in which various control programs, information on notification, and the like are stored, and a RAM [Rand used as a work area] om Access Memory], a paper output unit 16 serving as a paper output destination for copied paper, a message output unit 17 including notification means (such as a sound source circuit and a speaker) to the user, and a user's copier And a user detection unit 18 for detecting a departure from 1 or a user change.

  In addition to controlling the operation of the entire apparatus, the CPU 10 performs a process related to notification for preventing a user from forgetting to remove a manuscript or copied paper, which will be described in detail later.

  The paper supply unit 14 includes a plurality of (three in this embodiment) paper storage units 141 serving as a paper supply source to the image forming unit 13, and a common paper conveyance from each paper storage unit 141 to the image forming unit 13. And a sheet conveyance unit 142 serving as a path.

  The document capture unit 11 includes a document transport unit 110 that automatically transports a document, a document image capture window 116 in which a document is placed and serving as a document image capture region by a document image capture unit, and a document image capture. And a take-in window sensor 115 that detects the presence or absence of a document on the window 116.

  The document feeder 110 is disposed on the document table 111, a document table 111 on which a document is set when automatic document conveyance is performed, a document table sensor 112 that detects the presence or absence of a document on the document table 111, and the document table 111. A feeding roller 113 that transports a document, a document discharge tray 119 that is a discharge destination of a document that has been captured, and a document that has been transported by the transport roller 113 is a document image take-in window 116 and a document discharge tray 119. A discharge belt 117 for discharging the document conveyed by the conveyance belt 114 to the document discharge tray 119, and a discharge document sensor 118 for detecting the presence or absence of the document on the document discharge tray 119. It consists of

  The paper discharge unit 16 includes a paper discharge tray 161 that discharges copied paper and a paper discharge sensor 162 that detects the presence or absence of the copied paper on the paper discharge tray 161.

  Note that productivity can be improved by collectively performing post-processing from output sorting to stapling, and further punching and folding instead of the paper discharge tray 161 of the copying machine 1 having the above-described configuration. A finisher having a plurality of tray sections, sorter sections, staple sections, punch sections, bent sections, and the like may be attached. In this case, a paper discharge sensor for detecting the presence or absence of the copied paper may be provided in each tray or each sorter serving as a paper discharge destination for the copied paper.

  The message output unit 17 includes a speaker 171 that outputs the notification content stored in the memory unit 15 by the CPU 10 using sound.

  The user detection unit 18 is provided on the front of the apparatus, and a user detection sensor 181 for detecting a user who has entered a predetermined detection area and a magnetic card storing user information registered in the copier 1 in advance are inserted. And a magnetic card reader 182 for reading the information.

  Next, the document copying operation in the copying machine 1 configured as described above will be described. In the document copying operation in the copying machine 1, first, when a plurality of documents are set on the document table 111 with the document image surface facing up, the document table sensor 112 detects that there is a document. Subsequently, when a start key (not shown) of the operation display unit 12 is pressed, the original is moved from the lowermost original to a predetermined position of the original image taking-in window 116 by the feeding roller 113 and the conveying belt 114. Be transported. At this time, the capture window sensor 115 detects that there is a document on the document image capture window 116. The document image is captured (generation of image data) by a document image capturing unit (not shown). Then, the document for which the document image has been captured is discharged to the document discharge tray 119 by the transport belt 114 and the discharge roller 117. At this time, the discharged document sensor 118 detects that there is a document on the document discharge tray 119.

  On the other hand, the generated image data is temporarily stored in the memory unit 15, read again, and sent to the image forming unit 13. Thereafter, the image forming unit 13 performs an image forming process and a fixing process on the sheet based on the input image data. Subsequently, the copied paper is discharged to a paper discharge tray 161. At this time, the paper discharge sensor 162 detects the copied paper. When the document table sensor 112 detects the document, the document copying operation is continued as described above.

  Note that the copying machine 1 of the present embodiment is characterized by control related to notification to prevent forgetting to remove a document or copied paper. Therefore, in the following, with reference to the drawings, a detailed description will be given of control related to notification for preventing forgetting to remove a document or copied paper in the copying machine 1 of the present embodiment.

  First, detection of the original in the original take-in unit 11 after completion of the copying operation of the copying machine 1, the copied paper on the paper discharge tray 161, the leaving of the user from the copying machine 1, and the presence / absence of a change will be described below.

  The document on the document take-in unit 11 is detected when the document is detected by at least one of the platen sensor 112, the take-in window sensor 115, and the discharged document sensor 118, by the CPU 10 to the document take-in unit 11. This is performed by determining that there is a document.

  The detection of the copied paper on the paper discharge tray 161 is performed when the CPU 10 determines that there is paper on the paper discharge tray 161 when the paper discharge sensor 162 detects a document.

  The detection of the user leaving the copying machine 1 is detected by the user detection sensor 181 again after a predetermined time has elapsed after the user detection sensor 181 detects the movement of the user from the detection area to the outside of the detection area. If not, the determination is made by the CPU 10 that the user has left.

  The detection of user change is as follows. First, at the start of use of the copying machine 1, the user inserts a magnetic card on which the user information is recorded into the magnetic card reader 182. If the information read by the magnetic card reader 182 matches the information of each user stored in the memory unit 15 in advance, use of the copying machine 1 is permitted. Then, the usage record of the copying machine 1 by the user is stored in the memory unit 15. Subsequently, the user's magnetic card is removed after the copying machine 1 is used, a new user's magnetic card is inserted into the magnetic card reader 182, and the user information is read by the magnetic card reader 182. This is performed by checking the user's record used last time stored in the memory unit 15 and determining that the user has changed if the user is different.

  Next, after the copying operation of the copying machine 1 is completed, a notification when the document in the document take-in unit 11, the copied paper on the paper discharge tray 161, the user leaving the copying machine 1 and the presence or absence of the change is detected is described below. Explained. FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining notification for each detection pattern after the copying operation of the copying machine 1 is completed.

  In the notification of forgetting to remove a document, the conventional copying machine is configured to detect whether the user has left or replaced the device and whether or not there is a document in the document take-in section, so the user has left or replaced the device. , And if it is detected that there is a document in the document capture unit, it cannot be determined whether the user has temporarily left the copier, whether the user has completely left the machine, or has been replaced. A similar voice message alerts him that he had forgotten to take the manuscript.

  Therefore, in the present invention, the presence or absence of copied paper on the paper discharge tray 161 is also detected, and when there is no copied paper on the paper discharge tray 161, that is, as shown in the detection pattern a of FIG. If it is detected that there is an original in the take-in unit 11, no paper on the paper discharge tray 161, or that the user has left or changed from the copying machine 1, the copied paper is removed on the paper discharge tray 161. Therefore, it can be determined that the user has completely left or replaced the copying machine 1. Therefore, in this case, a voice message indicates that the user has forgotten to take a document at a volume higher than the detection pattern c from the speaker 171 (that is, a strong notification).

  Further, when there is copied paper on the paper discharge tray 161, that is, as shown in the detection pattern c in FIG. 3, there is a document on the document take-in portion 11, paper on the paper discharge tray 161, and from the user's copying machine 1. If it is detected that the user has left or replaced, the copied paper has not been removed, so the user is not considered to have completely left or replaced the copier 1 and has just left. Thus, it can be determined that the camera returns to the copying machine 1 again. Therefore, in this case, the voice message from the speaker 171 indicates that the original is forgotten to be removed, the copied paper is forgotten to be removed, or the original and the copied paper are forgotten. (I.e., weak notification).

  In addition, in the notification of forgetting to remove the copied paper, the conventional copying machine is configured to detect the presence or absence of the copied paper on the discharge tray and the user's device. If it is detected that the user has left or replaced, and that there is copied paper on the output tray, it is determined whether the user has temporarily left the device or whether the user has completely left or replaced the device. I couldn't do it, and I was told by a similar voice message that I had forgotten to take the paper.

Therefore, in the present invention, as described above, the presence / absence of a document in the document take-in unit 11 is further detected. If there is no document in the document take-in unit 11, that is, the detection pattern b in FIG. As described above, when it is detected that there is no document in the document take-in unit 11, there is paper on the paper discharge tray 161, and the user has left or changed from the copier 1, the document is put in the document take-in unit 11. Since there is no user, it can be determined that the user has completely left the copier 1 or changed. Therefore, in this case, a voice message is output from the speaker 171 that there is a volume larger than the detection pattern c and that the user has forgotten to remove the copied paper (that is, a strong notification).

  Further, when there is an original in the original take-in unit 11, that is, as in the detection pattern c, there is an original in the original take-in unit 11, there is paper on the paper discharge tray 161, and the user has left or changed from the copier 1. If it is detected that the document is present, the document has been removed from the document take-in unit 11 and the user is not considered to have completely left or replaced the copying machine 1 and has only left temporarily. It can be determined that the camera returns to the copying machine 1 again. Therefore, in this case, as described above, the speaker 171 has a volume lower than the detection pattern b, and the user has forgotten to remove the copied paper, forgets to remove the original, or forgets to remove the original and the copied paper. Is output as a voice message (that is, weak notification).

  Moreover, the notification in the case where it differs from the detection pattern demonstrated above is demonstrated below. As shown in the detection pattern d in FIG. 3, if it is detected that there is no document in the document take-in unit 11, there is no paper in the discharge tray 161, and the user has left or changed from the copier 1, Since there is no forgetting to remove the paper, no voice message is output from the speaker 171.

  Further, as shown in the detection pattern e of FIG. 3, when it is detected that there is a document in the document take-in portion 11, there is paper in the discharge tray 161, and the user has not left or replaced the copying machine 1, and As shown in the detection pattern f in FIG. 3, when it is detected that there is a document in the document take-in portion 11, no paper in the paper discharge tray 161, and no user has left or changed from the copying machine 1, Is not separated from the copying machine 1 and cannot be considered to have forgotten to take a document or paper, and therefore no voice message is output from the speaker 171.

  In the above, in order to give different notifications when the user is temporarily separated from the copier 1 and when it is determined that the user has completely left or replaced, the sound is recorded according to the detection pattern. Notification was performed by changing the volume of the message, but depending on the detection pattern, the message content, volume, sound length, and sound quality of the voice message are changed to change the strength of the voice message. Notification may be performed.

  Therefore, as described above, in the case of the copying machine 1 according to the present embodiment, by using a voice message as the notification means, it is possible to prevent forgetting to remove a document or copied paper after the operation of the copying machine 1 is completed. This is possible, and the user can temporarily change the voice message when the user is temporarily determined to have left the copier 1 and when the user has completely left or replaced. Thus, it is possible to determine whether the notification is when the user has left the copying machine 1 or when the user has completely left or changed.

  In the above description, the method using the voice message as the notification means has been described. However, a visual message using lighting of a light emitting diode, display on a light emitting diode display, or the like may be used as the notification means.

  For example, a light emitting diode display is provided in the copying machine 1 instead of the speaker 171 that outputs a voice message. As described above, after the copying operation of the copying machine 1 is completed, the detection of the document on the document take-in unit 11, the copied paper on the paper discharge tray 161, the user leaving the copying machine 1, and whether or not there is a change is described above. When it is determined that the user has temporarily moved away from the copying machine 1 as in the detection pattern c, compared to the case where it is determined that the user has completely left or replaced as in the detection pattern a or the detection pattern b. The content of notification to the light emitting diode display is displayed darkly.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 3, under the control of the CPU 10, in the case of the detection pattern a, it is displayed on the light emitting diode display that the forgetting to remove the document is brighter than the detection pattern c. In the case of the detection pattern b, the light-emitting diode display indicates that the forgetting to remove the paper is brighter than the detection pattern c. In the case of the detection pattern c, the light-emitting diode display is darker than the detection patterns a and b and the document is forgotten to be removed, the copied paper is forgotten to be removed, or the original and the copied paper are removed. It is displayed that there is forgetting. Therefore, by changing the brightness of the light emitting diode display according to the detection pattern as described above, when the user temporarily leaves the copier 1, or when the user has completely left or replaced It is possible to determine which is the notification.

  A case where lighting of a light emitting diode is used for a visual message will be described below. FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a visual message by lighting a light emitting diode. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, three light emitting diodes 172 are provided instead of the speaker 171 of the copying machine 1. When it is determined that the user has completely left or replaced as in the detection pattern a or the detection pattern b described above, it is determined that the user has temporarily left the copying machine 1 as in the detection pattern c. In contrast, in the case of the detection pattern c, one of the light emitting diodes 172b is turned on.

  In the above, in order to give different notifications when the user is temporarily determined to have left the copier 1 and when it is determined that the user has completely left or replaced, according to the detection pattern. Notification has been made by changing the brightness of the light emitting diode display (ie, brightness) and the number of light emitting diodes lit, but at least the message content, hue, lightness, and saturation of the visual message according to the detection pattern Notification may be performed by changing the strength of the visual message by changing any one of them.

  Therefore, as described above, in the case of the copying machine 1 according to the present embodiment, a visual message is used as the notification unit, thereby preventing forgetting to remove a document or copied paper after the operation of the copying machine 1 is completed. In the notification that prevents the user from forgetting to take a manuscript or copied paper, it is determined that the user has temporarily left the copying machine 1 and that the user has completely left or replaced. By setting the strength of the visual message, it is possible to determine whether the notification is when the user temporarily leaves the copier 1 or when the user has completely left or replaced. .

  Moreover, you may use the above-mentioned audio | voice message and a visual message simultaneously for an alerting | reporting means. As a result, it is possible to further increase the effect of preventing forgetting to remove the original and copied paper after the operation of the copying machine 1 is completed.

  The present invention can be widely applied to image forming apparatuses such as facsimiles in addition to copying machines, and is a technique useful for preventing forgetting of originals and printed sheets after use of the apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of a copier according to the present invention. These are the longitudinal cross-sectional views which show typically the principal part structure of the copying machine which concerns on this invention. These are the figures for demonstrating the alerting | reporting content with respect to each detection pattern after the copying operation of a copying machine is completed. These are the figures for demonstrating the visual message by lighting of a light emitting diode.

Explanation of symbols

1 Copier 10 Central processing unit (CPU)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Document take-in part 110 Document feed part 111 Document stand 112 Document stand sensor 113 Conveyance roller 114 Conveyor belt 115 Take-in window sensor 116 Document image take-in window 117 Discharge roller 118 Discharge document sensor 119 Document discharge tray 12 Operation display part 13 Image Forming part 131 Printing part 132 Fixing part 14 Paper feed part 15 Memory part 16 Paper discharge part 161 Paper discharge tray 162 Paper discharge sensor 17 Message output part 171 Speaker 172 Light emitting diode 18 User detection part 181 User detection sensor 182 Magnetic card reader

Claims (4)

A document capture unit that captures a document image and generates image data; a document detection unit that detects the presence or absence of a document in the document capture unit; and an image forming unit that outputs an image to a sheet based on the image data A paper discharge unit that is a paper discharge destination of the paper on which an image is formed by the image forming unit, a paper detection unit that detects the presence or absence of the image-formed paper in the paper discharge unit, and a user's device leaving or changing An image forming apparatus comprising: a user detecting means for detecting
The detection results of the document detection means, the paper detection means, and the user detection means are:
If the original is present, the image is not formed, and the user's device is left or replaced, a notification is given at the first volume that the original is forgotten.
If there is a document, an image-formed sheet, and a user's device leaving or changing, respectively, the document is forgotten to be forgotten at a second volume lower than the first volume . Alternatively, an image forming apparatus comprising an informing means for informing that there is a forgotten removal of a document and an image-formed sheet. A document capture unit that captures a document image and generates image data; a document detection unit that detects the presence or absence of a document in the document capture unit; and an image forming unit that outputs an image to a sheet based on the image data A paper discharge unit that is a paper discharge destination of the paper on which an image is formed by the image forming unit, a paper detection unit that detects the presence or absence of the image-formed paper in the paper discharge unit, and a user's device leaving or changing An image forming apparatus comprising: a user detecting means for detecting
The detection results of the document detection means, the paper detection means, and the user detection means are:
When there is no original, image-formed paper is present, and the user's device is left or replaced, a notification is made that the image-formed paper is forgotten at the first volume ,
If the original document is present, the image-formed paper is present, and the user's device is left or replaced, forgetting to remove the image-formed paper at a second volume lower than the first volume. An image forming apparatus comprising a notification means for notifying that there is a document or forgetting to take a document and an image-formed sheet. A document capture unit that captures a document image and generates image data; a document detection unit that detects the presence or absence of a document in the document capture unit; and an image forming unit that outputs an image to a sheet based on the image data A paper discharge unit that is a paper discharge destination of the paper on which an image is formed by the image forming unit, a paper detection unit that detects the presence or absence of the image-formed paper in the paper discharge unit, and a user's device leaving or changing An image forming apparatus comprising: a user detecting means for detecting
The detection results of the document detection means, the paper detection means, and the user detection means are:
If the document is present, the image is not formed, and the user's device is left or replaced, a notice is given at the first brightness that the document is forgotten.
If the document is present, the image-formed paper is present, and the user's device is left or replaced, forgetting to remove the document with a second brightness that is darker than the first brightness. An image forming apparatus comprising an informing means for informing that a document or an image-formed sheet is forgotten to be removed. A document capture unit that captures a document image and generates image data; a document detection unit that detects the presence or absence of a document in the document capture unit; and an image forming unit that outputs an image to a sheet based on the image data A paper discharge unit that is a paper discharge destination of the paper on which an image is formed by the image forming unit, a paper detection unit that detects the presence or absence of the image-formed paper in the paper discharge unit, and a user's device leaving or changing An image forming apparatus comprising: a user detecting means for detecting
The detection results of the document detection means, the paper detection means, and the user detection means are:
When there is no original, image-formed paper is present, and the user's device is left or replaced, a notification is made that the image-formed paper is forgotten to be removed at the first brightness .
If the document is present, the image-formed paper is present, and the user's device is left or replaced, the image-formed paper is removed at a second brightness that is darker than the first brightness. An image forming apparatus comprising an informing means for informing that there is forgetting, or that there is forgetting to take a document and image-formed paper.

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