JPH0364783A - Electrophotographic device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To number copies that have automatically been put the sheets in page order by providing a means marking a page number in the prescribed position of read-out picture information and a means controlling the page number marking means based on the setting of an input means deciding whether a page number is marked or not. CONSTITUTION:The page number marking means 107 generate page number picture information, incorporates and edits the page number picture information into picture information read out of a memory 104 and marks a page number in the prescribed address position of original picture information to be copied. The input means 110 decides whether a page number is marked or not. Based on the setting, the page number marking means 107 is controlled via a control means 111, whereby a page number marking function judging whether a page number is marked or not is selected if necessary. Thus, page numbers are marked on the copies automatically put the sheets in page order if necessary, and the convenience of copies is improved.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an electrophotographic apparatus that realizes a sorter function, and in particular, a page number system that assigns a page number to each transfer unit of image information when outputting image information. The present invention relates to an electrophotographic device that is provided with a function to improve the convenience of the device.

[Conventional technology]

In recent years, PPC copiers have become smaller, faster, and...

As multi-functionality progresses, electrophotographic devices are equipped with automatic document processing devices that not only produce identical copies from a single document, but also have automatic bookbinding functions such as automatic page alignment (so-called sorter function). It is becoming popular.

Conventionally, as a method for realizing automatic page alignment, a copying machine or the like having a plurality of trays has been mainly used. FIG. 4 shows a schematic diagram of a copying machine having a plurality of trays, including a copying machine main body 400 that performs copy processing, a sorter 401 that operates from a plurality of trays, a paper feed tray 402 that stores transfer paper, and The apparatus includes a document cover 403 and the like for holding down a document (not shown) placed on the main body 400 of the machine. Automatic page alignment in the copying machine involves selecting the sorting function and setting the required number of copies through a predetermined input means, then opening the document cover 403 and placing the document on the copying machine main body 400. and start the copying operation. The copying machine main body 400 carries the transfer paper from the paper feed tray 402 into the copying machine main body 400 based on the number of copies to be made, and after performing the transfer process, transfers it to the sorter 40.
One tray is used for the same number of copies as the number of copies, and transfer sheets are sequentially discharged to the tray. When the copying of one document is completed, the document cover 403 is opened, the document on the copying machine main body 400 is replaced, and the same operation is repeated. Therefore, when performing automatic page alignment using the sorter 401, the same number of trays as the number of copies is required, so if you want to bind a large number of copies, it is necessary to increase the number of trays, and the sorter becomes large. There was an inconvenience in terms of scale.

Electrophotographic apparatuses have been proposed to solve this problem, and for example, there is an image processing apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 16762/1983. This image processing device temporarily stores image information of a plurality of originals in a memory, and controls the readout order of the image information stored in the memory by a control means.
Furthermore, by controlling the number of times of reading, a sorter function (automatic page alignment function) is realized. That is,
Instead of using the sorter 401 to mechanically switch the transfer paper ejection mechanism and ejection destination tray and perform automatic page alignment, reading from the memory is controlled (in other words,
It performs automatic page alignment (by sorting in memory), thereby achieving a similar sorter function without increasing the size of the entire device.

On the other hand, as copying machines become more multi-functional, the demand for copies (transfer paper, etc. after copying image information) is increasing.
It is hoped that better services will be provided. For example, it would be more convenient to bind copies if necessary by assigning page numbers to copies obtained by automatic page alignment.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, although conventional electrophotographic devices use memory to achieve automatic page alignment as described above, functionally they simply replace classification processing by a sorter with sorting processing in memory. Therefore, no consideration was given to assigning page numbers to copies after automatic page alignment.

The present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object of the present invention is to improve the convenience of ejected copies by assigning page numbers as necessary to copies obtained by automatic page alignment.

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a page number assigning means for assigning a page number to a predetermined address position of image information read out from a memory, and an input means for setting whether or not to assign a page number. and a control means for controlling the page number assigning means based on the settings of the input means.

That is, in the electrophotographic apparatus of the present invention, the page number assigning means generates the image information of the page number, and the image information of the page number is read out from the memory (the image information of the original to be copied). Incorporated into the specified address position.
Edit and add page numbers. In addition, by setting whether or not to give this page number using the input means, and controlling the page number giving means via the control means based on this setting, whether or not to give the page number as necessary. It is possible to select whether or not (page numbering function).

[Effect]

In the electrophotographic apparatus of the present invention, when page number assignment is set by the control means through the input means, the page number assignment means is controlled and the image information read from the memory is placed at a predetermined address position. Assign page numbers.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, the electrophotographic apparatus of the present invention will be explained in detail.

FIG. 1A shows a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention, which includes a scanner unit 101 that photoelectrically converts an input original image and outputs it as an analog signal, and a scanner unit 101 that inputs the analog signal of the scanner unit 101, performs shooing correction, An image processing unit 102 that performs processing such as A/D conversion and binarization, and an MH
(One-dimensional compression method: Modified Huffman
Coding) and MR (two-dimensional compression method: Modef
An encoding unit 103 that encodes using an encoding method such as ied Read), a memory 104 that stores encoded image information, and a decoding unit 1 that decodes the encoded image information.
05, a primary storage section 106 that temporarily stores decoded image information, a page number total section 107 that assigns a page number to the image information read from the memory, and a decoding section 10.
5 or a switching unit 108 that switches the signal line connection between the full page number raw unit 107 and the primary storage unit 106; a print unit 109 that prints the image information stored in the secondary storage unit 106; and an instruction to read the original.

Operation unit 110 (input means) for inputting printing instructions, etc.
, an address control section 111 that controls the write address and read address of the memory 104, and an operation section 110.
The control unit 112 outputs control signals to each of the above-mentioned units to control their operations in accordance with instructions input from the control unit 112 .

FIG. 1B shows a specific configuration of the operation unit 110, including a memory switch ME for scanning a document and inputting it into the memory 104, and a page display for displaying the number of pages stored in the memory 104 (number of input documents). PCNT and the number of copies (
A book number set switch BC for setting the number of copies (to be created), a numeric keypad for inputting the numerical value of the number of books, a book number display section BCNT for displaying the set number of books, and a page numbering mode for setting page numbers. The copy switch CP includes a page numbering mode switch PG for inputting a page numbering mode, and a copy switch CP for inputting the start of copying.

In the above configuration, when the memory switch ME that instructs to read the original on the operation unit 110 is pressed, the control unit 112 inputs the signal from the operation unit 110, causes the scanner unit 101 to scan the original, and photoelectrically converts the original image. The zero-order analog signal output as an analog signal is subjected to processing such as shuding correction, A/D conversion, and binarization in the image processing unit 102, and then encoded in the encoding unit 103.
It is stored in memory 104. Note that these operations are performed in synchronization with the operation of the scanner section 101 by a timing control section (not shown). Reading of the second and subsequent documents is performed in the same manner, but the address control unit 111 writes the encoded data into the memory 104 after the encoded data of the previous image. The encoded information encoded in this way and stored in the memory 104 is sent to the control unit 11.
2, each time a print command is issued to the print unit 109, the data is sequentially read out and decoded by the decoding unit 105. During normal copy processing, the decoding unit 105 is connected to the primary storage unit 106 by the switching unit 108, and -
When the image information of the document-inspection is stored in the next storage unit 106, the printing unit 109 performs a transfer process, and the copy is discharged.

When adding page numbers to a copy, in addition to the above operations, the switching unit 108 changes the page numbers to all original parts 10.
7 and the primary storage unit 106, the control unit 11
2, and the page number (image information) generated by the page number total generation section 107 is stored in the -next storage section 106.
It is written at a predetermined address position above (the position on the image information where the page number is attached).

Next, the flowcharts of FIGS. 2A and 2B, and.

Referring to FIG. 1B, the operation of the electrophotographic apparatus as an embodiment of the present invention will be specifically explained using an example in which 5 copies of 10 originals are made, page numbers are added, and the pages are arranged in order. do.

When the memory switch ME of the operation unit 110 is pressed (201), the scanner unit 101 scans the document (202), the encoder 103 encodes the document (203), and stores it in the memory 104 (204). From 201 to 2, repeat the same steps for the number of required manuscripts (here, 10 in total).
Repeat step 04.

Next, when all manuscripts have been input, the user presses the volume set switch BC on the operation unit 110 (206) and inputs the required number of volumes using the numeric keys (207).

The number of books entered here is displayed on the number display section BCNT.Next, press the page numbering mode switch PC to select page numbering (208), then press the copy switch CP. Press (20
9) Read the encoded information from the start address (210) of the encoded data on the 10th page of the memory 104 (211), decode it (212), add page number 10 to the reproduced image (213) and copy it. Output (21
4). After the output of the 10th page is completed, the page number counter is decremented to 9, and the encoded information is read from the address of the memory 104 where the encoded data of the 9th page is stored (211), and decoded (21
2) Add page number 9 to the reproduced image (213) and output a copy (214). Thereafter, in the same manner, finish copying up to the first page (215), return the page counter to 10 after it (21B), and repeat the copying of the second book.
By repeating the same process up to the fifth book (216), copies of the five books can be obtained, with page numbers added and the pages in the same order, as shown in FIG.

In this embodiment, the image signal is processed as a binary signal, but when handling it as a multi-value signal, the coding unit 103 uses a multi-value coding method such as block coding or DPCM. However, this is not particularly limited here.

Further, although not specifically mentioned in this embodiment, the position at which the page number is added may be selectable.

For example, a method may be adopted in which one of the four corners of the transfer paper is specified.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, the electrophotographic apparatus of the present invention includes a page number assigning means for assigning a page number to a predetermined address position of image information read from a memory, and an input for setting whether or not to assign a page number. and a control means for controlling the page number assigning means based on the settings of the input means, so that page numbers are assigned as necessary to the copies obtained by automatic page alignment, and the copies are ejected. can improve the convenience of

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1A is an explanatory diagram showing the structure of the electrophotographic apparatus according to the present invention, FIG. 1B is an explanatory diagram showing the structure of the operation section, FIG. FIG. 2B shows a flowchart for outputting image information, FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing copies obtained by the electrophotographic apparatus in the embodiment, and FIG. 4 is an overview of a conventional copying machine having a plurality of trays. FIG. Explanation of symbols 101--Scanner section 102--Image processing section 103--Encoding section 104--
Memory 105--Decoding section 106--Next storage section 107--Page number generation section 108--Switching section 109---Printing section 110-- Operation unit 111・−・・−・
・Address control section 112 --- Control section Fig. 1B Numeric keypad

Claims (1)

[Claims] A sorter function (automatic page alignment function) is performed by temporarily storing image information of a plurality of originals in a memory, and controlling the reading order and number of readings of the image information stored in the memory. In the electrophotographic apparatus realized, a page number assigning means for assigning a page number to a predetermined address position of the image information read from the memory; an input means for setting whether to assign the page number; An electrophotographic apparatus comprising: a control means for controlling the page number assigning means based on settings of an input means.