JP4680218B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus.

Conventionally, one side of a plurality of originals is read and recorded, and the originals are printed (recorded) on both sides of recording paper (output paper), or both sides of the originals are read and recorded, and the originals are recorded on both sides of the recording paper or In various double-sided recording modes in an image forming apparatus that prints on one side, there is a case where the recording paper has a size α times that of the original paper and is copied at a partial magnification (printing magnification) β times. At this time, when α = β, there is no problem because of simple enlargement / reduction printing, but when α = β, there is a case where the image of the original is shifted and recorded. An image forming apparatus that solves this problem without using a memory or the like is known (for example, see Patent Document 1).
JP 2002-125102 A

  By the way, in the above-described image forming apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1, the direction in which the originals are bound, the top position of the originals, and the double-sided reading method (simultaneous reading / alternate reading) of the originals are not taken into consideration. There is no problem when the back side scan is read from the rear end in an automatic document feeder that can read both sides, but for example, when the top of the back side document is at the rear end, the output image area is There was a problem of shifting. Further, in the case of duplex scanning, there is a problem that it is not possible to know which part of the original is printed on which side of the recording paper, especially on the back side.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and in an image forming apparatus having a double-sided copying function, a function that makes it easy to understand how to print on a recording sheet when copying a document. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus.

In order to solve the above problems, the invention described in claim 1 is an image forming apparatus having a double-sided copying function of reading both sides of a document with a document reading unit and copying the document on both sides or one side of output paper . The duplex copying function includes at least one of a document detection unit that detects a document size and a document size setting unit that sets a document size as required, and a document top that sets a top position of a document as required. Position setting means, binding direction setting means for setting the binding direction of the document as required, output size setting means for setting the output paper size as required, and print magnification setting for setting the print magnification as required and means, the document as well as determining the size of the document in the detection means or the document size setting means, spelling of the document in the binding direction setting means By setting the direction and setting in which direction the original top position of the original is directed in the original top position setting means, the top of the original read data created by reading the original in the original reading unit. orientation is determined, and further comprising a storable data boxes the original reading data, the said data box, the document read data is stored with the information of the top of orientation, the duplex copy function, the data box When printing the document read data stored in the document, the output size setting means sets the size of the output paper, and the print magnification setting means sets the print magnification on the output paper, thereby image capable of heaven position when the upper setting the printing area relative to the top left corner of the document Characterized in that it further includes a processing unit.

  With this configuration, the original can be converted into data with information set in advance by each setting means and stored in the data box, and the additional information is stored when the stored original data is printed. Can be printed based on the upper left corner of the document.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, a document can be converted into data with information set in advance by each setting means and stored in a data box. When printing the stored document data, Since printing can be performed based on the additional information based on the upper left corner of the document, the user can easily imagine how to print on the output paper. That is, there is an effect that it is possible to easily understand how to print on the recording paper when printing the original data stored in the data box.

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the present embodiment, a case will be described in which the image forming apparatus is employed in a multifunction machine having a plurality of functions such as a copy, a printer, a fax, and a scanner.
As shown in FIG. 1, the multifunction device 1 includes a multifunction device main body 3 including an image storage unit, an image processing unit, a printing unit, a control unit, and the like (not shown) at the bottom. An operation display device 11 having an operation unit 5 for executing various operations of the multifunction device 1 on the upper front side of the multifunction device main body 3 and a display unit 9 having a touch panel 7 made of transparent electrodes arranged on the entire surface is configured. In the upper part of the multi-function device main body 3, the parts other than the operation display device 11 are composed of an automatic document feeder (ADF) 13 for automatically feeding a document and a transparent glass for placing the document. An image reading unit 17 including a table 14 and a scanner unit 15 for reading a document is configured. The multifunction device 1 has functions of a copy, a printer, a fax, and a scanner.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the operation display device 11 includes an operation unit 5 and a display unit 9. The operation unit 5 includes a plurality of buttons 19 that receive various operation instructions from the user and output the contents of the operation instructions to the control unit 33. The button 19 includes a start key 19a for starting copy work, fax transmission work, and the like, a numeric keypad 19b for setting the number of copies, a fax telephone number, and the like, and a function key 19c for starting an initial setting screen.

  The display unit 9 is configured by a color or monochrome liquid crystal display (LCD), and various information is displayed as various images, characters, figures, and the like based on display instructions input from the control unit 33 described later. Further, the touch panel 7 functions when the user touches each function key displayed on the display unit 9, and the input operation instruction content is output to the control unit 33.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the multi-function device 1 mainly includes an operation unit 5, a display unit 9, an image reading unit 17, an image storage unit 27, an image processing unit 29, a printing unit 31, a control unit 33, and the like. . The operation unit 5 and the display unit 9 are communicably connected to the control unit 33 as described above, and are configured to transmit and receive various operations of a plurality of functions.

The image reading unit 17 includes an automatic document feeder (ADF) 13 and a scanner unit (document reading unit) 15. Such an image reading unit 17 is controlled by the scanner unit 15 built in the multifunction machine body 3 while the document supplied from the automatic document feeder 13 is fed onto the table 14 under the control of the control unit 33. The document image is sequentially read and color image data representing the color of the document image can be output to the image storage unit 27. Further, even when the document is placed directly on the table 14, the scanner unit 15 is configured to read the image of the document.

  The image storage unit 27 is configured by an external storage device such as a hard disk or / and a semiconductor memory, and stores color image data of a document image input from the image reading unit 17. The image storage unit 27 is configured to write the color image data of the read document image and to read the color image data and output it to the image processing unit 29 under the control of the control unit 33. .

The image processing unit 29 is configured to be able to convert color image data input from the image storage unit 27 into data for printing and output to the printing unit 31 under the control of the control unit 33.
The printing unit 31 is configured as a printing unit that outputs a document image on the printing paper based on the color image data by transporting the printing paper and attaching toner to the printing paper under the control of the control unit 33. Has been.

  The control unit 33 controls the overall operation of the multifunction device 1 based on operation instructions input from the touch panel 7 of the operation unit 5 or the display unit 9, a control program stored in the internal memory, various control data, and the like. It is. That is, the control unit 33 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) that performs a control calculation based on the operation instruction, the control program, various control data, and the like (for example, the operation unit 5, the display unit 9, the image reading unit). 17, various input / output interface lines for exchanging data with the image storage unit 27, the image processing unit 29, and the printing unit 31). By controlling the other units in an integrated manner, copying and scanning are performed. The document image read by the image reading unit 17 using the function can be printed from the printing unit 31, the document data received from the outside can be printed as a printer, or the received fax data can be printed. It has become.

  Here, the multifunction device 1 is provided with a data box capable of storing document data read by a scanner or the like or data stored in a personal computer connected via a LAN or the like. The data box is composed of a hard disk or the like and can store a plurality of data. In addition, by reading the data stored in the data box and causing the multifunction device 1 to function as a printer, desired data can be printed out from the printing unit 31 and output. The data box is also used as the image storage unit 27.

Next, a case where a document is stored in a data box using the multifunction device 1 will be described based on the flowchart of FIG.
As shown in FIG. 4, in step 1 (S1), whether a document is set on the tray of the ADF 13 or directly on the table 14 is detected by a sensor (not shown). When a document is set on either of them, the process proceeds to step 2 (S2).

  In step 2, it is set whether or not to save the document data in the data box. Normally, data is not stored, and when data is stored, the function key displayed on the display unit 9 is pressed to select the data. If the data is to be stored, the process proceeds to step 3 (S3). If not, the process proceeds to step 10 (S10), where the original is read by the scanner and directly copied.

  In step 3, it is set whether the document is double-sided or single-sided. Normally, “single-sided” is set, and when it is desired to select “double-sided”, it is configured to be selectable by pressing a function key displayed on the display unit 9. If “both sides” is selected, the process proceeds to step 4 (S4). If “single side” is selected, the process proceeds to step 5 (S5).

  In step 4, the document binding direction is set (binding direction setting means). As the binding direction, there are “left and right binding” and “up and down binding”, and one of them is selected. When the binding direction is selected, the process proceeds to step 5.

  In step 5, the orientation of the top position of the document is set (document top position setting means). As shown in FIG. 5, the top position of the document is selected from eight patterns displayed on the display unit 9. When the top position of the document is set on the tray of the ADF 13, the orientation of the document placed on the tray is selected with the front side facing up. When a document is set on the table 14, the orientation when the front surface (odd number of documents) is placed so as to face the scanner unit 15 is selected. When the top position of the document is selected, the process proceeds to step 6 (S6).

  Returning to FIG. 4, in step 6, the size of the document is determined. The size of the original is automatically detected by a sensor (not shown) provided in the multifunction machine 1 (original detection means), or the size is manually set by operating the display unit 9 (original size setting means). To determine. This is because if the original is irregularly sized paper, the automatic detection may not recognize the correct size. In such a case, the original size may be determined by manual setting. it can. When the document size is determined, the process proceeds to step 7 (S7).

  In step 7, the controller 33 determines the top direction of the original read data from the front and back of the original, the state where the original is set (table 14 or ADF 13), the binding direction, the top position, and the size of the original. Here, the top direction of the original read data refers to the direction of the original data read by the scanner unit 15 although the original is read by the scanner unit 15 and converted into data. When the top direction of the original read data is determined, the process proceeds to step 8 (S8).

  As shown in FIG. 6, the top direction of the original read data is determined according to various conditions. In FIG. 6, regarding the orientation of the document, the back sky (the top position of the document is located on the back side when viewed from the user) or the left sky (the top position of the document is located on the left side when viewed from the user). This is the case only. Although the document may be placed with the top position on the near side or the right side when viewed from the user, it is often placed mainly on the back or left side. Although description of the side and the right side is omitted, it can be installed as a function.

  Further details will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 7A shows a case where a document is placed on the table 14 (in the case of “table reading” in FIG. 6) and is in the back. As shown in the figure, the scanner 15a scans from the top to the bottom with the document placed (indicated by one arrow in FIG. 7A), and further the scanner 15a moves to the right (FIG. 7). (Indicated by two arrows in (A)), the entire original is read. Accordingly, the data read by the scanner 15a is as shown in FIG. 7B, and the top of the original read data is directed to the left (corresponding to “the top of data top left” in FIG. 6). Here, the vertical movement of the scanner 15a is the movement in the main scanning direction, and the horizontal movement (original moving direction) of the scanner 15a is the movement in the sub-scanning direction.

  Next, FIG. 8A shows a case where the document is placed on the tray of the ADF 13 (in the case of “ADF reading” in FIG. 6) and the surface is in the back. As shown in the figure, the document is fed to the scanner unit 15 while being reversed by the ADF 13. Then, the entire original is read while the original passes through the upper part of the scanner 15a (FIG. 8A). The scanning direction of the scanner 15a is indicated by one arrow, and the moving direction of the original is indicated by two arrows. display). Accordingly, the data read by the scanner 15a is as shown in FIG. 8B, and the top direction of the original read data is directed to the right side (corresponding to “the top side of data top” in FIG. 6).

  Returning to FIG. 6, double-sided simultaneous reading is sent by the ADF 13 in the case of the multifunction device 1 in which the scanner unit 15 includes a scanner built in the multifunction device main body 3 and a scanner (not shown) inside the ADF 13. That is, the front and back sides of a document are read simultaneously by two scanners. Further, the double-sided alternate reading means that the scanner unit 15 sequentially reads the front surface and the back surface of the document with the scanner built in the multifunction machine main body 3. In this case, a reversing mechanism (not shown) for reversing the front surface and the back surface of the document is provided in the ADF 13.

  In step 8, the scanner unit 15 starts reading a document by pressing the start key 19a. When the reading of all the originals is completed, the process proceeds to step 9 (S9).

  In step 9, the original reading data read in step 8 is stored in a data box. All read data is stored in the data box. At this time, the information on the sky is also stored in the original reading data.

Next, a case where the data stored in the data box is printed out using the multifunction device 1 will be described based on the flowchart of FIG.
As shown in FIG. 9, in step 11 (S11), data to be printed out is selected from the data box. At this time, the data box stores original reading data stored by the above-described procedure, original data transmitted from a personal computer (PC) connected via a LAN, and the like. , Is configured to be selectable. When data is selected, the process proceeds to step 12 (S12).

  In step 12, the output paper size is determined (output size setting means). By operating the display unit 9, it is determined which size paper is to be printed and output. When the size of the output paper is determined, the process proceeds to step 13 (S13).

  In step 13, the print magnification for the output paper is set (print magnification setting means). By operating the display unit 9, it is set what percentage of the print size is compared with the print size of the document. When the print magnification is set, the process proceeds to step 14 (S14).

  In step 14, whether to print on one side or both sides of the output paper is set. By operating the display unit 9, “single-sided printing” or “double-sided printing” is selected. If single-sided printing is selected, the process proceeds to step 16 (S16). If double-sided printing is selected, the process proceeds to step 15 (S15).

  In step 15, the binding direction of the output paper is set. As the binding direction, there are “left and right binding” and “up and down binding”, and one of them is selected. When the binding direction is selected, the process proceeds to step 16.

  In step 16, the control unit 33 determines the print area (output area) of the original from the top direction of the original read data, the original size, the output paper size, and the print magnification. At this time, the print area of the document is determined based on the upper left corner when the top position of the document is positioned upward. This is because the top direction of the original read data can be recognized according to the flowchart of FIG. 4, so that the upper left corner of the original can be recognized on the data, and printing is required from that point (coordinate). A data area (printing area) can be determined. When the document print area is determined, the process proceeds to step 17 (S17). It should be noted that data stored via the LAN can be dealt with in the same way by storing the data after adjusting with a PC so that the sky is facing upward.

In step 17, extracting data in an area corresponding to the indicia shaped area from the original reading data stored in the data box, appropriate image processing such as to change the printing magnification in the image processing section (image processing means) 29 Do. After performing the image processing, the process proceeds to step 18 (S18).

  In step 18, based on the data subjected to the image processing in step 17, printing is performed on the output paper by the printing unit 31, that is, using the toner built in the multifunction device 1. The printed output paper is discharged from a paper discharge unit (not shown), and the process is terminated.

  The output paper output according to the above-described flowchart is printed as shown in FIGS. It should be noted that the relationship between the front surface and the back surface shown in the drawing was viewed by rotating around the vertical axis (vertical direction of the paper surface) of the document when the top position of the front surface was positioned upward. The reverse side is displayed (common to all of FIGS. 10 to 12). The printing condition will be described in the case where both the original and the output paper are A4 paper and the printing magnification is 200%.

(For printing from both sides to both sides)
As shown in FIG. 10A, in the case where both the original and the output paper are side-by-side binding and enlarged printing is performed, the top position of the front surface and the back surface is the same, so the upper left corner (the position with a black circle, the following) The print range indicated by a broken line is determined based on (common).

  As shown in FIG. 10B, when the original and the output paper are both vertically bound and enlarged and printed, the top position of the front surface and the back surface are different by 180 degrees, and a broken line with reference to the upper left corner of each surface. The indicated print range is determined.

  As shown in FIG. 10 (C), when the original is to be printed with left and right binding and the output paper is to be printed with upper and lower binding, when printing is enlarged, printing indicated by broken lines with the upper left corners of the front and back sides of the original as references. The range is determined, and printing is performed by rotating the back side by 180 degrees in the plane about the center of the document so as to be bound up and down.

  As shown in FIG. 10D, in the case of enlarging printing in the case where the original is to be printed with the upper and lower bindings and the output paper is to be printed with the left and right bindings, the back surface is set to the center of the original as in the pattern (C) described above. Printing is performed by rotating the shaft 180 degrees in a plane.

(For printing from both sides to one side)
As shown in FIG. 11A, when the original is double-sided on both sides and you want to print on the output paper one side at a time, and enlargement printing, the upper left corner of each of the front and back sides of the original is indicated by a broken line. The indicated printing range is determined, the front side is printed on the first sheet of output paper, and the back side is printed on the second sheet of output paper.

  As shown in FIG. 11B, when the original is double-sided on both sides and you want to print on each side of the output paper, and when you want to print on an enlarged scale, A printing range indicated by a broken line is determined with the upper left corner as a reference, and the front side is printed on the first sheet of output paper and the back side is printed on the second sheet of output paper. At this time, the back surface is rotated 180 degrees in the plane around the center of the document and is discharged so that the top surface and the top position are the same.

(For printing from one side to both sides)
As shown in FIG. 12A, when the original is single-sided and the output paper is to be printed on both sides with left and right binding and enlarged printing is performed, the upper left corner of each of the first and second originals is set. A printing range indicated by a broken line is determined as a reference, and the first sheet is printed on the front surface of the output paper, and the second sheet is printed on the back surface of the output paper.

  As shown in FIG. 12 (B), when the original is single-sided and the output paper is to be printed on both sides by upper and lower binding, and the enlarged printing is performed, the upper left corner of each of the first and second originals is set. A printing range indicated by a broken line is determined as a reference, and the first sheet is printed on the front surface of the output paper, and the second sheet is printed on the back surface of the output paper. At this time, the upper and lower sides are printed by rotating the back side by 180 degrees in a plane with the center of the second original as an axis for the up-down binding.

  By configuring as described above, the same position of the document (a position based on the upper left corner of the document) can be printed. This is because the top position is correctly set by the top position setting means even when the original placement direction (top position) is different (the left side is the original in FIGS. 9 to 11). If set, it will be printed in the same way.

  According to the present embodiment, in the multi-function device 1 having the double-sided copying function, a document detection unit that detects the size of a document, a document size setting unit that sets the size of the document, and a top position of the document are set as required. Document top position setting means, binding direction setting means for setting the binding direction of the document as required, output size setting means for setting the output paper size as required, and printing for setting the print magnification as required And a data box for storing document data. When printing the document data stored in the data box, the upper left corner of the document is The print area is set as a reference.

  With this configuration, the original can be converted into data with information set in advance by each setting means and stored in the data box, and the additional information is stored when the stored original data is printed. Therefore, it is possible to make it easy for the user to imagine how to print on the output paper. That is, it is possible to make it easy to understand how to print on the recording paper when printing the original data stored in the data box.

  Further, not only the document data read by the image reading unit 17 but also the data stored in the PC connected to the multifunction device 1 via the LAN or the like can be transferred to the data box and stored. Configured. The data from the PC can be printed on the basis of the upper left corner of the document as described above by adjusting in advance on the PC side so that the top of the document data faces upward. Configured. Accordingly, various types of data can be handled by the multi-function device 1, and the user can easily imagine how the data is printed on the output paper.

The technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. In other words, the specific method described in this embodiment is merely an example, and can be changed as appropriate.
For example, the order of various settings may be changed as long as the printing function is appropriately executed (for example, document size setting, output paper size setting, and printing magnification setting).
In the present embodiment, the case where the image forming apparatus is employed in a multifunction peripheral has been described. However, the present invention may be employed in a copying machine, a FAX dedicated machine, or the like.

1 is a perspective view of a multifunction machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective view of the operation display apparatus in the embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a block diagram of a multifunction machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. 6 is a flowchart showing a flow of operations when storing document data in a data box in the embodiment of the present invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the display part in the case of the document top position setting in embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the case classification which determines the direction of the top of the original reading data in embodiment of this invention. 4A and 4B are explanatory diagrams for explaining the top direction of document read data when a document is directly placed on a table in the embodiment of the present invention, where FIG. 5A shows the positional relationship between the scanner and the document; FIG. FIG. 4 is a data image diagram of a document read by a scanner. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the top orientation of document read data when a document is placed on the ADF tray in the embodiment of the present invention, where FIG. ) Is a data image diagram of a document read by a scanner. 6 is a flowchart showing a flow of operations when printing document data in a data box in the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a case where double-sided printing is performed on output paper on a double-sided document in an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a case where a double-sided document is printed on one side of an output sheet according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a case where a single-sided original is duplex printed on output paper according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Multi-function device (image forming apparatus) 27 ... Image memory | storage part (data box) S4 ... Binding direction setting means S5 ... Original top position setting means S6 ... Original size setting means S12 ... Output size setting means S13 ... Print magnification setting means

Claims (1)

In an image forming apparatus having a double-sided copying function of reading both sides of a document with a document reading unit and copying the document onto both sides or one side of output paper ,
The duplex copying function includes at least one of a document detection unit that detects a document size and a document size setting unit that sets a document size as required, and a document top that sets a top position of a document as required. Position setting means, binding direction setting means for setting the binding direction of the document as required, output size setting means for setting the output paper size as required, and print magnification setting for setting the print magnification as required Means,
The document size is determined by the document detection unit or the document size setting unit, the binding direction of the document is set by the binding direction setting unit, and the top position of the document is set by the document top position setting unit. By setting whether or not it is facing, the top direction of the original reading data created by reading the original in the original reading unit is determined,
The original reading data further comprising a storable data box, the said data box, the document read data is stored with the information of the top direction,
The duplex copying function sets the output paper size in the output size setting means and prints on the output paper in the print magnification setting means when printing the original reading data stored in the data box. Image forming means, further comprising an image processing means capable of setting a print area with reference to the upper left corner of the document when the top position of the document is set to the top by setting a magnification apparatus.

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