JP4894461B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus that forms a character image including a character image of a read original on both sides of a recording sheet.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an image processing apparatus in which an image reading apparatus and an image forming apparatus are combined, such as a copying machine, can perform double-sided printing, and usually feeds and prints recording paper from a tray inside the apparatus. In most image forming apparatuses, a recording sheet can be fed from a manual feed tray and printed separately from a tray that stores recording sheets in advance. However, when performing double-sided printing on the recording paper fed to the manual feed tray, the size of the recording paper fed to the manual feed tray is unknown, and printing may not be performed correctly. Therefore, the combination of printing with recording paper fed to the manual feed tray and duplex printing has been prohibited.

  To eliminate this prohibition, when performing duplex printing on recording paper of unknown size fed to the manual feed tray, the width of the recording paper fed to the manual feed tray is detected and the detected recording is detected. The paper size candidates are output based on the paper width, and the operator sets and selects the recording paper fed to the manual feed tray from the candidates, and then prints both sides of the recording paper fed to the manual feed tray. Printing has been proposed (see Patent Document 1).

  Similarly, when performing double-sided printing on recording paper of unknown size fed to the manual feed tray, the length of the recording paper fed from the manual feed tray is determined before reaching the intermediate tray, If it is a recording paper (standard size paper), it is fed into the paper carry-in gate corresponding to the size of each recording paper, and then the recording paper fed to the manual feed tray is re-fed to the image recording unit and printed on both sides. It has been proposed (see Patent Document 2).

  For example, in the case of conventional double-sided printing, when the orientation of a character image is a direction (vertical orientation) that intersects the paper conveyance direction, image data of the second page (back side) of the document including the character image is generated as it is. After printing, image data of the first page (front side) of the document including the character image is generated and printed as it is.

Further, in the case of conventional double-sided printing, when the orientation of the character image is the paper transport direction (landscape), image data of the second page (back side) of the document including the character image is generated and rotated 180 degrees. Printing is performed to generate image data of the first page (front side) of the document including the character image and print it as it is.
JP-A-6-148990 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-330228

  However, when double-sided printing is performed on the recording paper in the manual feed tray, since the recording paper size is not fixed before printing starts, the size of the recording paper must be specified every time, which is troublesome. Alternatively, in order to detect the size of the recording paper, the conveyance path for conveying the recording paper has to be lengthened, and there is a problem that the apparatus becomes large and takes time.

  The present invention does not require time and effort, does not increase the size of the apparatus, and does not take time, so that manual feed of a size within a range in which an image can be formed based on the original or image data can be performed. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of duplex printing on a recording sheet fed to a tray.

1st invention is an image forming apparatus provided with the image forming part which forms an image on the front and back of one sheet of recording paper based on image forming data for two pages, and corresponds to the image forming part A recording paper reversing mechanism that reverses the front and back of the recording paper and reverses the front and back in the transport direction for image formation on the front and back surfaces of the recording paper, and forms images on the front and back surfaces of the recording paper Sub-scanning the main scanning line data constituting the image forming data corresponding to one page when the binding direction is specified and when the binding direction is orthogonal to the recording paper conveyance direction A data conversion means for image formation that converts the order in the reverse direction and rotates the image by 180 degrees, and a direction that intersects the recording paper conveyance direction on a predetermined tray for sending the recording paper to the image forming section The width dimension of A width detecting means for output, the width dimension of the recording sheet detected by the width detecting means, in the case of matching the length of one side of the recording sheet previously obtained standard size, the data for the image forming When the width direction dimension of the recording sheet detected by the width dimension detecting unit does not match the length of one side of the standard size recording sheet determined in advance, An image forming process availability determining unit that determines that image forming processing based on the image forming data is not possible, and an image for the two pages when the image forming process availability determining unit determines that the image forming process is possible Based on the image forming data corresponding to the other page that is not converted by the image forming data conversion means among the forming data, the image forming process on one side of the recording paper is executed. A first image forming means, before the image forming process for the other surface of the recording sheet is performed, the length detecting means for detecting the length of the conveying direction of the recording paper, the binding direction There wherein when a direction orthogonal to the conveying direction of the recording sheet, the width detected by the width detecting means, on the basis of the length dimension detected by said length dimension detection means, the recording An image on the other side of the recording sheet is set based on the image forming data of the one page which is set to a writing position on the other side of the sheet and rotated 180 degrees by the image forming data conversion unit. Second image forming means for executing processing.

  According to the first aspect, the image forming data for two pages is formed on the front and back surfaces of one recording sheet. Therefore, first, the width dimension of the recording sheet on the predetermined tray in the direction intersecting the sheet conveying direction is detected. Next, whether or not the image forming data can be formed is determined based on the width dimension, and if possible, an image is recorded based on the image forming data on the other page that is not converted by the image forming data converting unit. Form on one side of the paper. Since the image forming data on one side is formed, the length dimension in the conveyance direction of the recording paper is detected, and the image forming data of one page formed on the other side is determined by the width dimension and the length dimension. The main scanning line data of the image forming range including the specific image range is extracted from the main scanning line data constituting the image forming data when the binding direction is a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the recording paper. The order is reversed in the sub-scanning direction and the image is rotated 180 degrees. The recording sheet on which the image is not formed is reversed front and back and front and back by the recording sheet reversing mechanism, and an image is formed on the other side of one recording sheet based on the extracted main scanning line data. Therefore, it is possible to perform double-sided printing on a recording sheet that is in a range where image formation is possible from image forming data for two pages on a recording sheet fed to a predetermined tray.

The second invention is an image forming data for two pages, and for a specific image that is concentrated in a predetermined range and is biased in the sub-scanning direction in the main scanning line data for each page. An image forming apparatus including an image forming unit that forms the specific image for two pages on the front and back sides of a recording sheet, the image forming unit being provided corresponding to the image forming unit and forming images on the front and back sides of the recording sheet. A recording sheet reversing mechanism that reverses the front and back of the recording paper and reverses the front and back in the transport direction, and a reverse direction in the transport direction of the front and back surfaces of the recording paper caused by the reversing operation of the recording paper reversing mechanism. In order to eliminate the phenomenon, a means for designating a binding direction when forming an image on the front and back surfaces of the recording paper, and a case where the binding direction is a direction orthogonal to the recording paper conveyance direction, corresponds to one page. For image formation Image forming data converting means for converting the main scanning line data constituting the data in the reverse order in the sub-scanning direction and rotating the image by 180 degrees, and a predetermined for sending the recording paper to the image forming section Width dimension detection for detecting a width dimension in a direction intersecting the recording paper conveyance direction after the image forming section is positioned and before the image forming process is performed on one side of the image forming unit. And the width direction dimension of the recording sheet detected by the width dimension detecting unit coincides with the length of one side of the standard size recording sheet obtained in advance , an image forming process based on the image forming data If the width dimension of the recording sheet detected by the width dimension detecting means does not match the length of one side of the standard size recording sheet determined in advance, the image forming data And the image forming processing propriety determining means for determining an image forming process is not possible based on, when the image forming process is possible with the image forming processing possibility determining section, in the image forming data of the two pages, A first image forming unit that executes an image forming process on one side of the recording sheet based on image forming data corresponding to the other page that is not converted by the image forming data converting unit; A length dimension detecting means for detecting a length dimension of the recording paper in the transport direction from when it is fed out from the tray to when the image forming process on the other surface of the recording paper is performed; Based on the width dimension detected by the width dimension detection means and the length dimension detected by the length dimension detection means when the binding direction is a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the recording paper. The above A writing start position on the other side of the recording sheet is set, and based on the image forming data of the one page rotated by 180 degrees by the image forming data converting unit, the writing position to the other side of the recording sheet is set . Second image forming means for executing image processing.

  According to the second invention, for a specific image that is image formation data for two pages and that is biased in the sub-scanning direction in the main scanning line data for each page, The specific images for two pages are formed on the front and back surfaces of a sheet of recording paper. Therefore, first, the width dimension of the recording sheet on the predetermined tray in the direction intersecting the sheet conveying direction is detected. Next, whether or not the image forming data obtained from the specific image can be formed is determined based on the standard size information obtained from the width dimension. If possible, the other image data that is not converted by the image forming data converting means is used. An image is formed on one side of the recording paper based on the image forming data of the page. Therefore, the length dimension in the conveyance direction of the recording sheet is detected until the image forming data is formed on the other side of the recording sheet, and the width dimension and the length dimension of one page formed on the other side are detected. The main scanning line data of the image formable range including the specific image range is extracted from the image forming data, and the main data constituting the image forming data is formed when the binding direction is a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the recording paper. The scan line data is converted in the reverse order along the sub-scanning direction, and the image is rotated 180 degrees. The recording sheet on which the image is not formed is reversed front and back and front and rear by the recording sheet reversing mechanism, and an image is formed on the other side of one recording sheet based on the extracted main scanning line data. . Therefore, a specific image that is image formation data for two pages on a recording sheet fed to a predetermined tray and is concentrated in a predetermined range in the sub-scanning direction in the main scanning line data for each page. The specific image for two pages can be printed on both sides of the front and back surfaces of one recording sheet.

  In the first invention or the second invention, the largest standard size among the standard size recording papers whose aspect ratio is determined in advance based on the width dimension detected by the width dimension detecting means is the recording paper size. It is characterized by selecting as a candidate.

  In the first or second aspect of the invention, the length direction dimension detecting unit may perform image forming processing on the upstream side of the image forming unit and on one surface of the recording paper by the first image forming unit. It is characterized in that it is provided at a position where the length dimension cannot be detected by the start of.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to form an image from an original or image data based on the original or image data without taking time, increasing the size of the apparatus, and taking less time. An excellent effect is obtained in that double-sided printing can be performed on a recording sheet fed to a manual feed tray having a size within a certain range.

  FIG. 1 shows the overall configuration of the image processing apparatus 100.

  The image processing apparatus 100 includes an image reading apparatus 102 at the upper part and an image forming apparatus 104 provided at the lower part of the image reading apparatus 102.

(Configuration of image reading apparatus 102)
As shown in FIG. 1, the image reading apparatus 102 includes an apparatus main body 106 and a cover unit 108 provided on the upper surface of the apparatus main body. The cover unit 108 is provided with a box-shaped ADF device 110 at the top thereof. The ADF device 110 has a transport system that pulls in the document placed on the document tray 112, reverses it, and discharges it to the document discharge tray 114. In addition, the ADF device 110 includes a reading sensor 116 that reads a document image in the middle of the conveyance path. As a result, the original image can be read before the original reaches the original discharge tray 114 from the original tray 112. In the ADF apparatus 110 according to the present embodiment, it is also possible to read the images of the front and back surfaces of the document by inverting the front and back and the top and bottom of the drawn document.

  The document discharge tray 114 also has a function as a platen cover 118. That is, a white plate having elasticity is attached to the lower surface of the document discharge tray 114 so as to face the platen glass 120 provided on the upper surface of the apparatus main body 106. A document can be placed on the platen glass 120, and is applied to document image reading when the ADF device 110 is not used.

  The apparatus main body 106 includes a first moving unit 126 having a light source 122 and a reflecting mirror 124, and a second moving unit 132 having a pair of reflecting mirrors 128 and 130. Each of the first moving unit 126 and the second moving unit 132 moves on the lower surface side of the platen glass 120.

  The first moving unit 126 irradiates light on the original image placed on the platen glass during the movement and receives the reflected light by the reflecting mirror 124. One reflection of the second moving unit 132 is reflected on the first moving unit 126. Guide to mirror 128. In the second moving unit 132, the light received by one reflection mirror 128 is reflected by the other reflection mirror 130 and guided to the CCD line sensor 136 via the lens unit 134.

  In the first moving unit 126 and the second moving unit 132, the second moving unit with respect to the moving distance of the first moving unit 126 in order to make the optical path length from the original image to the CCD line sensor 136 constant. 128 is moved within the same time by a half thereof.

  Further, when the original is read when the ADF device 110 is used, both the first moving unit 126 and the second moving unit 132 are positioned at the left end (home position) in FIG.

(Configuration of image forming apparatus 104)
The image forming apparatus 104 has a predetermined recording sheet 138 (based on image data read by the CCD line sensor 136 of the image reading apparatus 102 or image data transmitted from a PC (not shown) on the network. (See FIGS. 1 and 7).

  The image forming apparatus 104 is entirely covered with a rectangular casing 140, and the upper surface thereof serves as a discharge tray 142 for the recording paper 138.

  Components for image formation are arranged in the housing 140, and a charging unit 146 is arranged around the photosensitive drum 144, which is the main component, in order from the upstream side in the rotation direction of the photosensitive drum 144. An optical scanning device 148, a developing unit 150, a transfer unit 152, and a cleaning unit 154 are provided.

  That is, after the surface of the photosensitive drum 144 is uniformly charged by the charging unit 146, an electrostatic latent image is formed by irradiation with a light beam from the optical scanning device 148, and the toner is applied to the electrostatic latent image by the developing unit 150. And develop (toner image).

  The recording paper 138 is conveyed and sandwiched between the transfer unit 152 and the photosensitive drum 144 from the paper tray 156 or the manual feed tray 158, and the toner image on the photosensitive drum 144 is recorded on the recording paper 138. It is supposed to be transferred to. A length dimension detection sensor 24 is provided in the vicinity of the upstream side of the transfer unit 152, and a width dimension detection sensor 26 is provided on the manual feed tray 158 (details will be described later). The transferred recording sheet 138 is sent to the fixing unit 160 and heated and pressed to fix the toner image on the recording sheet 138 and discharged to the discharge tray 142. In the present embodiment, the recording paper 138 can be discharged also to the sub discharge tray 142 provided on the left wall in FIG.

  The image forming apparatus 104 is provided with a reversing mechanism 162. The reversing mechanism 162 returns the recording paper 138 (one side of which image has been formed) that has passed through the fixing unit 160 to the upstream side of the transfer unit 152 by a so-called switchback method, and enables image formation on the other side. Yes. At this time, the recording paper 138 is reversed in the transport direction as well as the front and back are reversed.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a control system for image formation in the image processing apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment.

  A commercial power supply (not shown) is connected to the main power supply management unit 30, generates LVPS (low voltage power supply) and HVPS (high voltage power supply), and supplies power to each unit via a power supply line.

  A user interface 34 is connected to the main controller 32, and an instruction regarding image formation or the like is given by a user's operation, and information on the image formation or the like is notified to the user.

  The main controller 32 is connected to a network line with an external host computer (not shown) so that image data is input.

  Further, the main controller 32 is connected to an image reading processing control unit 28, and image data sent from the image reading apparatus 102 (see FIG. 1) is input thereto.

  When the image data is input, the main controller 32 analyzes, for example, print instruction information included in the image data and the image data, and density data for image formation in a format suitable for the image processing apparatus 100 (for example, bit data). Map data), and the image data is sent to the image forming process control unit 36 constituting a part of the machine control unit (MCU).

  In the image forming process control unit 36, based on the input image data, together with the image forming process control unit 36, an optical scanning system control unit 38, a drive system control unit 40, and a charger control that respectively constitute a machine control unit. The unit 42, the developing device control unit 44, and the fixing control unit 46 are synchronously controlled to execute image formation.

  A state management unit 48 is connected to the image formation processing control unit 36, and determines the operating state of the image processing apparatus (for example, during the processing mode, during the sleep mode, during startup from the sleep mode, during processing, etc.). It is like that. The operating state determined by the state management unit 48 is sent to the main controller 32.

  The main controller 32 is connected with a temperature sensor 50 and a humidity sensor 52 for detecting the environment. The temperature sensor 50 and the humidity sensor 52 detect the environmental temperature and humidity in the image forming apparatus 104.

  The main controller 32 is connected with a width dimension sensor 26 and a length dimension detection sensor 24 for measuring the size of the recording paper 138. The width dimension sensor 26 and the length dimension detection sensor 24 determine and detect a recording paper 138 having a predetermined standard size.

  The main controller 32 is connected to a discharge sensor 22 that determines whether or not the recording paper 138 has been discharged.

  Further, the main controller 32 is connected with a density sensor 54 that is essential for performing output image density correction and toner density correction. The density sensor 54 is provided mainly for detecting the density of the inspection image (patch) for detecting the color shift (registration shift) of the image.

  Here, in the present embodiment, image formation is performed on both sides using recording paper 138 of various standard sizes (for example, A3, A4, B4, B5, etc.) loaded in each of the paper trays 156 (hereinafter referred to as “double-sided printing”). For example, the recording paper size may be specified based on the original size (original image data size) and the paper tray 156 may be selected. Although the paper tray 156 has a single configuration in FIG. 1, a plurality of paper trays 156 may be provided to store recording papers 138 of different sizes.

  On the other hand, when using the manual feed tray 158 and trying to perform double-sided printing, the recording paper size is unknown when the first page (the surface to be printed first) is formed, and the binding direction of the front and back surfaces is the paper transport direction. In the case of the orthogonal direction, image loss may occur. The binding direction refers to the direction of the location where the recording paper 138 after the image is formed (for example, the location where the staple is to be bound). The binding direction includes a left-right direction that is a paper conveyance direction or a vertical direction that is a direction orthogonal to the paper conveyance direction.

  For this reason, conventionally, the combination designation of “double-sided printing, manual feed tray use” is prohibited.

  On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the manual feed tray is designated by specifying whether the binding direction during double-sided printing is the left-right direction (paper transport direction) or the vertical direction (direction orthogonal to the paper transport direction). It was decided to permit double-sided printing according to 158.

  However, there are cases where the main image of the document area is biased in the transport direction (sub-scanning direction).

  For example, among A3 size image data, when there is an image only in the front half direction area (A4 size area) (hereinafter referred to as “main image”), the recording paper size is A4 size. In some cases.

In the present embodiment, even when printing is performed under the special conditions as described above, the function of printing the main image on the front and back surfaces with the binding direction aligned is set.
(A) When the top-to-bottom direction of the original for two pages is a direction (upper) orthogonal to the transport direction, and a main image exists in the entire area A3 (in the case of the original in FIG. 10A).

  The first side (back side) is printed, and the image data on the front side is rotated 180 degrees. At that time, the recording paper size is determined to be A3, and the next side (front side) is printed.

Accordingly, the image data can be printed with the binding direction aligned.
(B) When the top-to-bottom direction of the original for two pages is the conveyance direction (left), and the main image exists in the entire area A3 (like the original in FIG. 9A).

  The first side (back side) is printed, and the image data on the front side is rotated 180 degrees. At that time, the recording paper size is determined to be A3, and the next side (front side) is printed.

Accordingly, the image data can be printed with the binding direction aligned.
(C) When the top and bottom direction of the document for two pages is a direction (upper) perpendicular to the transport direction, and a main image exists in a half area of the entire area A3 (FIG. 10C or FIG. 10). (In the case of the original of (d)).

  The first side (back side) is printed, and the image data on the front side is rotated 180 degrees. At that time, the recording paper size is determined to be A4, and the next side (front side) is printed.

Accordingly, the image data can be printed with the binding direction aligned.
(D) When the top-to-bottom direction of the document for two pages is the conveyance direction (left) and the main image exists in a half area of the entire area A3 (in FIG. 9C or FIG. 9D) Like a manuscript).

  The first side (back side) is printed, and the image data on the front side is rotated 180 degrees. At that time, the recording paper size is determined to be A4, and the next side (front side) is printed.

  Accordingly, the image data can be printed with the binding direction aligned.

  FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of the entire image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment.

  Information on the single side / double side and image orientation from the user interface 34 and length information on the width dimension of one side (width) of the recording paper 138 fed from the width dimension detection sensor 26 to the manual feed tray 158 are input to the main controller 32. Is done.

  For example, the image data read by the image reading processing control unit 28 is stored in the storage unit 302 and input to the image conversion unit 304 as appropriate. Therefore, the single-sided / double-sided and image orientation information input from the user interface 34 is input to the image conversion unit 304 via the image forming condition input unit 306 as input information. Here, the length information of the width dimension of one side of the recording paper 138 fed to the manual feed tray 158 (detected by the width dimension sensor 26) is converted into the maximum standard size information via the standard size determination unit 308, the image conversion unit 304, and The image is input to the image reading control unit 28 and image reading is started.

  The fixed size determination unit 308 refers to the fixed size data table 310 and sends information on the fixed size, and if it does not correspond to any of the fixed sizes, the error processing unit 312 outputs error information. Error information is also input to the image reading control unit 28, and image reading is stopped.

  Next, non-converted image data based on the input information and the maximum fixed size information from the image conversion unit 304 to which the image data information, the input information, and the maximum fixed size information are input via the first image formation instruction unit 314. Is output to the image forming process control unit 36.

  Further, the standard size determination unit 308 refers to the standard size data table 310 based on the length information of one side (paper length) of the recording paper 138 fed to the manual feed tray 158 detected by the length dimension detection sensor 24 and manually feeds it. The accurate standard size of the recording paper 138 fed to the tray 158 is determined, and the standard size information is output to the image conversion unit 304.

  Furthermore, the image data after conversion is image-formed based on the input information and the standard size information from the image conversion unit 304 to which the image data information, the input information, and the standard size information are input via the second image formation instruction unit 318. The data is output to the processing control unit 36. The image formation processing control unit 36 is set via the cleaning instruction unit 320 based on the size information of the image data from the image conversion unit 304 and the size information of the recording paper 138 fed from the standard size determination unit 308 to the manual feed tray 158. Output to.

  The operation of this embodiment will be described below.

  FIG. 4 shows a flowchart of manual tray scan control in the entire image forming process according to the present embodiment.

  In step 400, single-sided / double-sided copying and image orientation information are input from the user interface 34. If entered, the process proceeds to step 402. If it is not input, the process ends and returns to repeat the input process.

  In step 402, the width dimension detection sensor 26 (see FIG. 1) detects the length of one side (width) of the recording paper 138 placed on the manual feed tray 158. At this time, as shown in FIG. 7, the side guide 700 of the manual feed tray 158 also serves as the width dimension detection sensor 26 and can detect the length of one side (width) of the loaded recording paper 138. The length of the width surrounded by the arrow in FIG. 7 is measured based on the ON / OFF timing of the width dimension detection sensor 26. As shown in FIG. 7, the recording paper 138 is transported by placing it on the manual feed tray 158 regardless of the direction of the characters, as shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B. There are two types, the case where the direction in which the recording sheet 138 is perpendicular to the long side and the direction in which the recording paper 138 is conveyed is perpendicular to the short side as shown in FIGS. . For example, if the recording paper 138 is A4, the case of FIGS. 8A and 8B is called A4LEF (Long Edge Feed), and the case of FIGS. 8C and 8D is A4SEF (Short Edge Feed). ). As shown in FIGS. 8A to 8D, the maximum standard size changes depending on how the manual feed tray 158 of the recording paper 138 is placed. More specifically, in the case of A4LEF, the maximum fixed size is A3, but in the case of A4SEF, the maximum fixed size is A4.

  In step 404, the standard size data table 310 is referenced from one side (width) of the recording paper 138 detected by the width dimension detection sensor 26, and it is determined whether or not it is one side of the standard size recording paper 138. If it does not coincide with one side of the length of any standard size recording paper 138, the process proceeds to step 406, and if any side of the length of the standard size recording paper 138 matches, the process proceeds to step 408.

  In step 406, the apparatus stops and ends as a size mismatch error.

  In step 408, the image reading process control unit 28 reads (scans) the document. When reading a document, the scanning direction is determined and read as shown in the input image data in FIG.

  In step 410, the image data of the document scanned by the image reading control unit 28 determines the scanning direction as shown in FIG. 6B and generates image data.

  If step 410 is completed and the image data of the document is generated, the process proceeds to the flowchart of the image forming process control according to the present embodiment shown in FIG.

  FIG. 5 shows a flowchart of image formation processing control according to the present embodiment.

  In step 500, the conveyance of the recording paper 138 for printing from the manual feed tray 158 is started.

  In step 502, it is determined whether or not single-sided copying is performed. If it is single-sided copying, the process proceeds to step 504. If it is not single-sided copying but double-sided copying, the process proceeds to step 506.

  In step 504, since one-sided copying is performed, one side (width) of the first page (front surface) is a standard size with respect to the direction intersecting the sheet conveyance direction of the recording sheet 138 placed on the manual feed tray 158 by the width dimension detection sensor 26. Printing starts as recording paper 138 having the largest standard size among those that coincide with each other.

  In step 506, since double-sided copying is performed, one side (width) of the second page (back side) with respect to the direction intersecting the sheet conveyance direction of the recording sheet 138 placed on the manual feed tray 158 by the width dimension detection sensor 26 is a standard size. Printing starts as recording paper 138 having the largest standard size among those that coincide with each other.

  In step 508, the length dimension detection sensor 24 is used to detect the length of the recording paper 138 placed on the manual feed tray 158 in the paper conveyance direction from the passage time of the recording paper 138.

  In step 510, it is determined whether or not the recording paper 138 placed on the manual feed tray 158 is a standard size from the vertical and horizontal lengths measured by the width dimension detection sensor 26 and the length dimension detection sensor 24. If it is not the standard size, the process proceeds to step 512, and if it is the standard size, the process proceeds to step 514.

  In step 512, the apparatus stops as a size mismatch error because it is not a standard size.

  In step 514, since the length of the recording paper 138 is known in the vertical and horizontal directions (the paper conveyance direction and the direction intersecting the paper conveyance direction), it is determined as one of the standard sizes.

  In step 516, it is determined whether or not the first page (front side) has been transferred (printed) if single-sided printing has been performed. If it is double-sided printing, it is determined whether or not the transfer of the second page (back side) has been completed. If not transferred, continue until transferred.

  In step 518, it is determined whether or not the detected size of the recording paper 138 is the maximum standard size. If it is the maximum standard size, the process proceeds to step 522. If it is not the maximum standard size, the process proceeds to step 520.

  In step 520, since the detected size of the recording paper 138 is not the maximum standard size, toner is adhered to the transfer unit 152, and thus cleaning is performed.

  In step 522, it is determined whether or not a single-sided copy is performed. If it is single-sided copying, printing is terminated. If it is not single-sided copying but double-sided copying, the process proceeds to step 524.

  In step 524, since the copy is double-sided, the recording paper 138 is reversed in the image forming apparatus 104 (see FIG. 1) and conveyed to the conveyance path of the reversing mechanism unit 162 so that double-sided copying can be performed.

  In step 526, it is determined whether or not the binding direction of double-sided printing is the vertical direction (direction orthogonal to the paper transport direction). If the binding direction of double-sided printing is not the vertical direction, the process proceeds to step 528, and if the binding direction of double-sided printing is the vertical direction, the process proceeds to step 530.

  In step 528, if the binding direction of double-sided printing is not the vertical direction but the horizontal direction, the print data writing start position is set at the writing leading edge of the recording paper 138. The so-called print data of the first page (front surface) is not subjected to processing such as rotation, and the process proceeds to step 534 without changing the print data.

  In step 530, the print data of the first page (front surface) is rotated by 180 degrees (see FIG. 6B).

  In step 532, the start position for writing print data on the first page (front side) is set to (maximum standard size length−detected size). More specifically, as shown in FIGS. 9 (e) and 10 (e), the writing position is set by shifting in the direction of the arrow so as to match the size of the recording paper 138 that has detected the print data after being rotated 180 degrees. To do. Alternatively, as shown in FIGS. 10E and 10F, the writing position is set so as to print the print data after being rotated 180 degrees within the detected size range of the recording paper 138.

  In step 534, printing of the first page (front surface) is started with the detected standard size.

  In step 536, it is determined whether or not the transfer to the recording paper 138 is completed. If the transfer is completed, the process ends. If the transfer is not completed, the process is repeated.

  FIG. 9 shows a diagram when double-sided printing is performed when the vertical direction of characters and images according to the present embodiment is the paper conveyance direction (left) and the binding direction is the vertical direction.

  Also, FIG. 10 shows a diagram when double-sided printing is performed when the vertical direction of characters and images according to the present embodiment is a direction (upward) orthogonal to the paper transport direction and the binding direction is up and down. .

  FIG. 9 shows the case where the vertical direction of characters and images is the paper transport direction.

  FIG. 10 illustrates the case where the vertical direction of characters and images is a direction orthogonal to the paper transport direction.

  In FIG. 9A and FIG. 10A, a letter F is printed on the first page (front side) of a large-size document including characters and images. The letter A is printed on the second page (back side) of the document. Since the recording paper size of the manual feed tray 158 is unknown, first, the second page (back side) of the original image data (print data) read by the image reading processing control unit 28 is the same recording paper as the large size original. 138 is printed. Next, since the second page (back side) has been printed, it is clear that the recording paper size of the manual feed tray 158 is the size of the original. In view of this, the recording paper 138 on which the second page (back side) is printed is reversed along with the conveyance direction by the reversing mechanism 162 (see FIG. 1) of the image forming apparatus 104. Then, the first page (front surface) image generated by the image reading control unit 28 is inverted by 180 degrees by the image conversion unit 304 (see FIG. 3), and then by the image forming process control unit 36 (see FIGS. 2 and 3). Print.

  In FIG. 9B and FIG. 10B, the letter F is printed on the first page (front side) of a small-size document including characters and images. The letter A is printed on the second page (back side) of the document. Since the recording paper size of the manual feed tray 158 is unknown, first, the second page (back side) of the print data read by the image reading processing control unit 28 is printed on the recording paper 138 having the same size as the small-size original. Next, since the second page (back side) has been printed, it is clear that the recording paper size of the manual feed tray 158 is the size of the original. In view of this, the recording paper 138 on which the second page (back side) is printed is reversed along with the conveyance direction by the reversing mechanism 162 (see FIG. 1) of the image forming apparatus 104. Then, the first page (front surface) image generated by the image reading control unit 28 is inverted by 180 degrees by the image conversion unit 304 (see FIG. 3), and then by the image forming process control unit 36 (see FIGS. 2 and 3). Print.

  9 (c) and 10 (c) show the first page (front side) of a large-size original including small-size characters and images on the first half of the recording paper 138 in the transport direction. Is printed on the second half (back side) of a large-size document containing small-size characters and images. Yes. Since the recording paper size of the manual feed tray 158 is unknown, first, the second page (back side) of the print data read by the image reading processing control unit 28 on both sides is directly printed on the recording paper 138 having the same size as the large-size document. To do. Next, since the second page (back side) has been printed, it is clear that the recording paper size of the manual feed tray 158 is the size of the original. In view of this, the recording paper 138 on which the second page (back side) is printed is reversed along with the conveyance direction by the reversing mechanism 162 (see FIG. 1) of the image forming apparatus 104. Then, the first page (front surface) image generated by the image reading control unit 28 is inverted by 180 degrees by the image conversion unit 304 (see FIG. 3), and then by the image forming process control unit 36 (see FIGS. 2 and 3). Print.

  In FIGS. 9D and 10D, recording is performed on the first page (front surface) of a large-size document including small-size characters and images as shown in FIGS. 9C and 10C. The letter “F” is printed on the first half of the transport direction of the paper 138, and the front of the recording paper 138 in the transport direction on the second page (back side) of a large-size document including small-size characters and images. The letter A is printed in half of the area. Since the recording paper size of the manual feed tray 158 is unknown, first, the second page (back side) of the print data read on both sides by the image reading control unit 28 is directly applied to the recording paper 138 that is half the size of the original as shown in the figure. Print. Next, since the second page (back side) has been printed, it is clear that the recording paper size of the manual feed tray 158 is ½ the size of the original. In view of this, the recording paper 138 on which the second page (back side) is printed is reversed along with the conveyance direction by the reversing mechanism 162 (see FIG. 1) of the image forming apparatus 104. Then, the image of the first page (front side) generated by the image reading control unit 28 is inverted 180 degrees by the image conversion unit 304 (see FIG. 3), and the image is formed on the recording paper 138 having a size half that of the original. Is printed within the possible range. At that time, as shown in FIGS. 9 (e) and 10 (e), the writing position is shifted in the direction of the arrow so as to match the detected recording paper size of the character image rotated 180 degrees. . Briefly, since the standard size of the recording paper 138 to be printed is known, half of the print data is skipped and the first page (front surface) is printed. Further, as shown in FIGS. 9 (f) and 10 (f), the writing position is determined so as to print the character image rotated 180 degrees within the detected recording paper size range. Briefly, since the standard size of the recording paper 138 to be printed is known, the first page (front surface) is printed within the range.

  9 and 10, the large size and the small size are described. For example, when the large size is A3, the small size is A4, and when the large size is B4, the small size is B5. When the large size is A4, the size that is relatively larger than the small size of the standard size is called the large size, such as the small size is A5. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 8, the maximum standard size of the standard size recording paper 138 based on the length of one side of the recording paper 138 is referred to as a large size, and the standard size recording having the length of one side is shown. The minimum standard size of the paper 138 is called a small size.

  Therefore, in FIG. 9, even when the direction of characters is the paper conveyance direction (left) and the binding direction is up and down, the recording paper 138 on which a plurality of images are formed can be bound at the correct position like a book. Also in FIG. 10, even when the direction of characters is a direction (upward) orthogonal to the paper conveyance direction and the binding direction is up and down, the recording paper 138 formed with a plurality of images can be bound at the correct position like a book. . Therefore, if an image is formed as shown in FIG. 9 and FIG. 10, it is possible to read and view the recording sheets 138 image-formed on a plurality of sheets bound like a book while turning one by one.

  In this embodiment, the case where the recording paper size is a fixed size has been described. However, the present invention can be applied even when the recording paper size is an atypical size. If the recording paper size is atypical, the determination in step 510 in FIG. 5 is not performed, and the detected recording paper width and the maximum printable length are set as the maximum size. After detecting the paper length of the recording paper, image extraction processing may be performed with the detected paper length of the recording paper.

1 is an overall configuration diagram of an image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment. 2 is a block diagram of a control system for image formation in the image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment. FIG. It is a functional block diagram of the whole image processing apparatus which concerns on this Embodiment. 6 is a flowchart of manual tray scan control in the entire image forming apparatus according to the present exemplary embodiment. 3 is a flowchart of image formation processing control according to the present embodiment. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a scanning direction of a document according to the present embodiment and a scanning direction when outputting image data (print data) of the document. FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a manual feed tray of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of a direction with respect to a conveyance direction of a recording sheet according to the present embodiment. The vertical direction of characters and images according to the present embodiment is a diagram when double-sided printing is performed when the paper conveyance direction (left) and the binding direction are vertical. The vertical direction of characters and images according to the present embodiment is a diagram when double-sided printing is performed when the binding direction is up and down in a direction (upward) orthogonal to the paper transport direction.

Explanation of symbols

24 Length Dimension Detection Sensor 26 Width Dimension Sensor 34 User Interface 100 Image Processing Device 102 Image Reading Device 104 Image Forming Device 138 Recording Paper 158 Manual Tray 304 Image Conversion Unit 308 Standard Size Determining Unit 314 First Image Formation Instructing Unit 318 Second Image formation instruction section

Claims (4)

An image forming apparatus including an image forming unit that forms images on the front and back surfaces of one recording sheet based on image forming data for two pages,
A recording paper reversing mechanism that is provided corresponding to the image forming unit and reverses the front and back of the recording paper and reverses the front and back in the transport direction for image formation on the front and back surfaces of the recording paper;
Means for designating a binding direction when images are formed on the front and back surfaces of the recording paper;
When the binding direction is a direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the recording paper, the main scanning line data constituting the image forming data corresponding to one page is converted in the reverse order along the sub scanning direction. Image forming data conversion means for rotating the image 180 degrees;
A width dimension detecting means for detecting a width dimension in a direction intersecting a recording sheet conveying direction on a predetermined tray for sending the recording sheet to the image forming unit;
When the width-direction dimension of the recording sheet detected by the width dimension detecting unit matches the length of one side of a predetermined-size recording sheet, image forming processing based on the image forming data is possible. If it is determined that the width direction dimension of the recording sheet detected by the width dimension detecting unit does not coincide with the length of one side of the recording sheet having a predetermined size, the image based on the image forming data An image formation process availability determination unit that determines that the formation process is not possible ;
Image formation corresponding to the other page that is not converted by the image formation data conversion means, out of the two pages of image formation data, when the image formation processing possibility determination means determines that image formation processing is possible First image forming means for executing an image forming process on one side of the recording paper based on the data for use;
A length dimension detecting means for detecting a length dimension of the recording sheet in the conveyance direction until an image forming process on the other side of the recording sheet is executed;
Based on the width dimension detected by the width dimension detection means and the length dimension detected by the length dimension detection means when the binding direction is a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the recording paper. The other side of the recording sheet is set on the basis of the image forming data of the one page that is set to the writing position on the other side of the recording sheet and rotated 180 degrees by the image forming data converting means. Second image forming means for performing image processing on
An image forming apparatus. On the front and back surfaces of a single recording sheet for a specific image that is image formation data for two pages and is concentrated in a predetermined range in the main scanning line data for each page and biased in the sub-scanning direction. An image forming apparatus including an image forming unit that forms the specific image for two pages,
A recording paper reversing mechanism that is provided corresponding to the image forming unit and reverses the front and back of the recording paper and reverses the front and back in the transport direction for image formation on the front and back surfaces of the recording paper;
Means for designating a binding direction when images are formed on the front and back surfaces of the recording paper;
When the binding direction is a direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the recording paper, the main scanning line data constituting the image forming data corresponding to one page is converted in the reverse order along the sub scanning direction. Image forming data conversion means for rotating the image 180 degrees;
The conveyance direction of the recording paper after the recording paper is positioned on a predetermined tray for sending out the recording paper to the image forming unit and before the image forming process on one side of the image forming unit is executed. A width dimension detecting means for detecting a width dimension in a direction intersecting with
When the width-direction dimension of the recording sheet detected by the width dimension detecting unit matches the length of one side of a predetermined-size recording sheet, image forming processing based on the image forming data is possible. If it is determined that the width direction dimension of the recording sheet detected by the width dimension detecting unit does not coincide with the length of one side of the recording sheet having a predetermined size, the image based on the image forming data An image formation process availability determination unit that determines that the formation process is not possible ;
When the image forming process is enabled by the image forming process enable / disable determining unit, the image forming data corresponding to the other page not converted by the image forming data converting unit among the image forming data for the two pages. A first image forming means for executing an image forming process on one side of the recording paper based on the data;
Length dimension detection for detecting the length dimension of the recording sheet in the conveyance direction after the recording sheet is fed from the tray and before the image forming process on the other side of the recording sheet is executed Means,
Based on the width dimension detected by the width dimension detection means and the length dimension detected by the length dimension detection means when the binding direction is a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the recording paper. The other side of the recording sheet is set on the basis of the image forming data of the one page that is set to the writing position on the other side of the recording sheet and rotated 180 degrees by the image forming data converting means. Second image forming means for performing image processing on
An image forming apparatus.   Based on the width dimension detected by the width dimension detecting means, the largest standard size is selected as a candidate for the size of the recording paper from among the standard size recording papers having a predetermined aspect ratio. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.   The length direction dimension detecting means detects the length dimension before the image forming process is started on the upstream side of the image forming unit and on the one surface of the recording paper by the first image forming means. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the image forming apparatus is provided at a position that cannot be fully covered.

Images