JPH04110964A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To write the arbitrary information in a recording medium in a state that the recording medium is attached to a document holder by stopping one of plural information free write frames so as to face an opening, when an information write mode is selected. CONSTITUTION:The device is provided with plural information free write frames 38 which can write or erase arbitrarily information in the lower part of a document holder 3, and also, provided with a belt-like recording medium 30 constituted so as to be freely movable in the direction orthogonal to the document scanning direction, and a driving means 48 for moving this recording medium 30. On the other hand, an opening 25 is formed in a position facing a moving path of the recording medium 30 in the document holder 3, and also, a control means having a function for selecting information written in the recording medium 30 and a function for selecting an additional position to recording paper of the selected information is provided. In such a state, when an information write mode is selected, one of the information free write frame 38 provided on the recording medium 30 stops so as to face the opening 25 provided on the document holder 3. In such a way, in a state that the recording medium 30 is attached to the document holder 3, arbitrary information can be written in the recording medium 30.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention performs exposure scanning of the original by moving an optical system relative to the original, and transfers an image of the original to an electrostatic latent material on an irradiating object. The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that has an information adding function that adds information other than the original image to the recording paper in addition to the normal image forming function of forming an image, making it visible with a developer, and transferring it to recording paper. .

[Conventional technology]

As an image forming apparatus having the above-mentioned functions, for example, one disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 143132/1983 is known.

This is done by providing a marsupial section on a belt that is passed between rollers for automatic document feeding placed on the document table, and on this marsupial section,
Insert a card with words such as "Confidential" and "Circulation," or information to be added other than the image of the manuscript, such as the date and serial number, and move the heddle to insert the bag into the optical system. The card is moved to a position where it is exposed to light, and the information recorded on the card is imprinted on the recording paper at the same time as the original image.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

In the above-mentioned conventional technology, when changing the information to be added to the recording paper, another card with new information recorded must be replaced in the marsupial section, which is a problem in that the operation is time-consuming. was there.

In addition, the above-mentioned conventional technology has a structure in which a marsupial portion is provided on a heddle that is passed between rollers for automatic document feeding, and the position of the heald in the direction orthogonal to the document scanning direction (document feeding direction) remains constant. Therefore, it is not possible to arbitrarily change the position where information is added in the width direction of the recording paper.

In order to eliminate such drawbacks of the prior art, the applicant of the present application has proposed a method in which multiple pieces of information can be physically written in a patent application filed on December 13, 1999 (Japanese Patent Application No. 323581/1999). An application has been filed for an image forming apparatus in which a belt-shaped recording medium is attached to a document holder and the information is imprinted onto recording paper.

However, in the image forming apparatus according to the above application, when attempting to write arbitrary information on a belt-shaped recording medium, due to its structure, the recording medium must be removed from the original holder, or the original may be left unattended with the recording medium attached. It is necessary to remove the presser from the main body of the image forming apparatus, and it was found that there is room for improvement in this respect.

The present invention has been made with the above-mentioned considerations in mind, and an object of the present invention is to print a recording medium in a state where the recording medium is attached to the document holder and without removing the document holder from the main body of the image forming apparatus. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus that can write arbitrary information to the image forming apparatus.

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a document holder provided in an upper part of the image forming apparatus main body so as to be freely openable and closable, and a document holder provided in an upper part of the image forming apparatus main body in a freely openable and closable manner. A belt-shaped recording medium is provided with a plurality of free information writing frames in which at least information can be arbitrarily written or erased under the presser foot, and is configured to be movable in a direction orthogonal to a document scanning direction; A driving means for moving the document is provided, an opening is formed at a position facing the moving path of the recording medium in the document holder, and a function for selecting information written on the recording medium and a recording paper for the selected information are provided. additional position 1 for
and control means having a function of selecting the information writing mode, and when the information writing mode is selected, any one of the plurality of free information writing frames is stopped so as to face the opening, and any information is written through the opening. The feature is that it allows you to write within the free writing frame.

[Effect]

According to the above configuration, a plurality of pieces of information to be added are written on a belt-shaped recording medium configured to be movable in a direction perpendicular to the document scanning direction, and the information to be added can be selected and the selected information can be added. Location selection is possible.

Further, when the information writing mode is selected, the recording medium is stopped so that one of the free information writing frames provided on the recording medium faces the opening provided on the document holder. In this case, if the information free writing frame stopped at a position facing the opening is blank, desired information can be written in that state. Also, if the information free writing frame is not blank and other information has already been written,
After erasing this, desired information may be written in, or another blank information free writing frame may be searched and this may be located within the opening.

Furthermore, when other information is written in all the blank information free writing frames, desired information may be written after erasing the information in one of them.

〔Example〕

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below based on the drawings.

FIG. 2 shows an electrophotographic copying machine capable of composite copying, which is an example of an image forming apparatus equipped with an information addition function for adding information other than the original image to recording paper.

In this figure, ■ is the copying machine main body (image forming device main body)
A contact glass 2 is provided above it. Reference numeral 3 denotes a document holder provided on the top of the copying machine body 1 so as to be openable and closable. A charging device 5. Blank lamp 6 for setting exposure area, developing device 7. Transfer device8. A recording paper separation device 9, a cleaning device 10 for the photoreceptor 4, and the like are provided. 11 is an exposure device with a moving optical system; 12 is a paper feeding and conveying device that conveys the recording paper p in the cassette case 13 to the transfer device 8 at a predetermined timing; and 14 is a fixing device 15 for transferring the recording paper p after transfer and separation. A discharge paper conveyance device that conveys the paper to
Reference numeral 6 denotes a paper discharge roller that discharges the recording paper p after fixing to the paper discharge tray 17. In the lower space of the copying machine main body 1, there is a paper refeeding device 18 having a function to prevent double feeding, and a reversing paper feeding device that reverses the recording paper P after fixation and feeds it to the intermediate tray 19 of the paper refeeding device 18. 20. 21. a path switching mechanism for switching the conveyance path of the recording paper p between the reversing paper feeder 20 side and the paper ejection roller 16 side; 21. A conveyance device 22 for feeding the recording paper p stored in the intermediate tray 19 to the paper feed conveyance device 12 in a combined manner is provided.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a cartridge loading section 24 in which an information cartridge 23 can be removably loaded is provided at one end in the document scanning direction below the document holder 3; An opening 25 is formed in the document holder 3 at a position facing the movement path of a recording medium 30 (described later).

First, as shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, the information cartridge 23 includes a housing 27 in which an information reading window 26 is formed on the bottom surface, and is held in the housing 27 through rollers 28 and 29 so as to be able to circulate freely. The recording medium 30 has an endless heald shape, and a gear-like rotating body 31 for circulating the recording medium 30. A rotating wheel 31 is fixed to the shaft end of one roller 28, and the other roller 29 is supported by the housing 27 through a long hole 32, with a roller shaft portion protruding from the long hole 32. By pressing the plate spring 33 in the direction of the elongated hole 32, an appropriate tension is applied to the recording medium 30. Further, a groove 34 is formed at one end in the longitudinal direction of the nozzing 27, and a protrusion 35 is formed at the other end.

The surface of the recording medium 30 has a reference &! 36, a plurality of information fixed frames 37 in which information to be added is pre-written (recorded) in a non-erasable manner, and a plurality of information free write frames 37 as margins in which information can be arbitrarily written or erased. (hereinafter referred to as a writing frame) 38 is formed. Here, the information that is written in advance in the information fixed frame 37 includes, for example, commonly used phrases such as "confidential" and "circulation", and the writing frame 38
Examples of information that can be arbitrarily written in include words and phrases that are necessary for each user, such as dates and serial numbers.

In the writing frame 38, as shown in FIG. This allows an engraved label 39 to be attached. That is, the writing frame 38
The surface of the heald is so that it does not form an image on the photoreceptor 4.
The first color (for example, white) is in the visible range and in a wavelength range where no image is formed on the photoreceptor 4, and the predetermined position on the belt surface is in the visible range and no image is formed on the photoreceptor 4. A frame that displays the recording position of information in a second color different from the first color in the wavelength range (this color varies depending on the material of the photoreceptor 4; for example, if the photoreceptor 4 is a selenium drum, it is pale blue). 40 is depicted. Note that the material of the recording medium 30 may be paper or cloth, and the recorded information can be wiped off or
8 may be made of a resin-based material so that it can be easily replaced.

In addition, in FIGS. 3 and 6, 41 indicates the recording medium 3.
A reflective photoelectric sensor is shown for determining the initial position of the recording medium 30 by detecting a reference line 36 formed at zero.

Further, the cartridge loading section 24 loads the information cartridge 23 in such a direction that the recording medium 30 circulates in a direction perpendicular to the document scanning direction. The cartridge loading section 23 has a guide pin 42 that engages with the groove 34.
and a hook 4 with spring properties that elastically fits into the protrusion 35.
3, and the additional information cartridge 23 can be loaded and removed with a one-touch operation.

That is, with the document presser 3 opened upward, the groove 34 at one end of the housing 27 of the information cartridge 23 is engaged with the guide bin 42, and the other end of the housing 27 is pushed into the back side of the document presser 3. By this, hook 43
The information cartridge 23 is loaded into the cartridge loading section 24 by elastically fitting into the protrusion 35 , and conversely, by removing the hook 43 from the protrusion 35 , the information cartridge 23 is loaded into the cartridge loading section 24 .
is removed.

Reference numeral 44 indicates a guide that can be slidably contacted on both sides of the housing 27 of the information cartridge 23, and reference numeral 45 indicates a pressing spring that presses the upper surface of the housing 27 of the information cartridge 23. These 44 and 45 are provided in the cartridge loading section 24. . Further, the information cartridge 23 is slidable within a certain range in a direction perpendicular to the contact glass 2, and when the information cartridge 23 is at the lowest position, the lower surface of the recording medium 30 is slightly lower than the lower surface of the document presser 3. The quantity is outstanding. Therefore, within the range of the above-mentioned protrusion amount, even if the document held by the document presser 3 is thick, the information cartridge 2
3 is raised relative to the document presser 3, and the lower surface of the recording medium 30 comes into close contact with the contact glass 2.

The document presser 3 also has a rotating wheel 31 when the information cartridge 23 is loaded in the cartridge loading section 24.
A gear-shaped drive wheel body 46 that meshes with and is automatically interlocked with the drive wheel body 46 and a stepping motor 47 that drives the drive wheel body 46 are provided.
A driving means 48 for circulating the 0 is constructed. The drive wheel body 46 is a support shaft 51 of an intermediate gear 50 that meshes with a gear 49 fixed to the output shaft of a stepping motor 47.
An arm 52 that can swing freely around the center and is urged to swing downward by its own weight when the document presser 3 is closed.
The shaft is mounted on a shaft at the tip of the shaft, and is constantly engaged with the intermediate gear 50.

Therefore, even if the information cartridge nozzle 23 is slid in a direction perpendicular to the contact glass 2 depending on the thickness of the document, the interlocking state of the driving wheel body 46 and the rotating wheel body 31 is maintained through engagement. be done.

On the top of the copying machine body 1, in addition to a copy switch and a numeric keypad (not shown) for setting the number of copies, as shown in Figure 7, there is information for selecting the normal copy mode and an information addition mode in which information is duplicated. Additional mode key 53, information write frame 38
A write mode key 54 selects a mode in which writing can be done arbitrarily, a write frame update key 55 updates the write frame 38, an information fixed frame 37, and a write frame 3.
A plurality of keys 56 for information selection corresponding to 8 are provided.

When the writing mode key 54 is pressed to select the writing mode, the first writing frame (for example, A) among the plurality of writing frames 38 is set in the opening 25, and the coordinate input is possible. become.

When this write mode key 54 is pressed again, the write mode is canceled. Further, each time the writing frame update key 55 is pressed, the plurality of writing frames 38 are updated one after another, and for example, after the last writing frame 38 (for example, N), the writing frame A returns to the first writing frame A. In this case, the coordinate input enabled state continues. This writing frame update key 55 performs a predetermined operation only when the writing mode is selected.

Further, the copying machine main body 1 is provided with a control means 57 having a function of selecting information written on the recording medium 30 and a function of selecting a position to add the selected information to the recording paper p. The control means 57 is composed of an information selection key 56, a position specifying means for specifying the addition position of the selected information, a means for extracting the selected information, and an electric control circuit that links these together according to a predetermined program. There is.

The position specifying means includes a tablet 58 on the document presser 3.
By pointing a predetermined position on the top surface of this tablet 58 with a stylus (not shown), the position where information is to be added to the recording paper P is specified in the XY coordinate system. By specifying the A point and the mouth point in FIG. 7, a rectangular area (shaded area) 8 with the A point and the mouth point as diagonal lines is specified.

The extraction means is for preventing images other than the area specified by the position specifying means from being transferred, and for ensuring that only the selected information is transferred to the specified area, and for controlling the feeding of the recording paper p. It is comprised of a paper timing adjustment means, a blank lamp 6, and the like.

Next, a procedure for adding information to a normal copy in the image forming apparatus having the above configuration will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9.

First, with the information addition mode selected using the information addition mode key 53, a desired key 56 of the information selection keys 56 is pressed to select information to be added.

Next, by indicating a predetermined position on the upper surface of the tablet 58 placed on the document presser 3 with the stylus, the position to add the selected information is selected.

After that, or prior to selecting the addition position, the original is set at a predetermined position on the contact glass 2, and a copy switch (not shown) is pressed.

As a result, the first copying operation (normal copying) is performed,
Only the image of the original is recorded on the recording paper P, and this recording paper P is stored in the intermediate tray 19.

Next, the output of the stepping motor 47 rotates the drive wheel body 46, and the rotation of the rotary wheel body 31 connected thereto causes the recording medium 30 to circulate by the required amount, and the selected information is transferred in the document scanning direction. When the recording medium 30 moves in the orthogonal direction and reaches a predetermined position, it stops.

Thereafter, a second copying operation (composite copying) is performed, the optical system performs exposure scanning to the position of the information cartridge 23, and the selected information is added to the selected position on the recording paper p. That is, the optical system moves to the position of the information cartridge 23 and performs exposure scanning, creates the information on the recording medium 30 as a latent image on the photoreceptor 4, and also moves to the position of the blank lamp 6.
By static elimination exposure, unnecessary latent images of images other than the selected information are removed, while the paper refeed chamber 18 and the transport bag!
22 operates to merge the recording paper P in the intermediate tray 19 into the paper feed conveyance device 12, and this paper feed conveyance device 12 transfers the recording paper P to the transfer device 8 at a predetermined paper feed timing relative to the rotation of the photoreceptor 4. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the image of the selected information a is added to a predetermined position on the recording paper p, and is ejected to the paper ejection tray 17 via the fixing device 15. .

In the above-described embodiment, in order to be able to change the position at which information is added in the width direction of the recording paper P (direction orthogonal to the document scanning direction) and the paper feeding direction (orthogonal direction to the document scanning direction), the document presser 3 is Although the configuration is such that the addition position of the selected information can be selected by indicating a predetermined position on the top surface of the deployed tablet 58 with a stylus, the information addition position 1 can only be changed in the width direction of the recording paper. If the configuration is as shown in FIG.
6 are provided along the moving direction of the recording medium 30, and after pressing one of the information selection keys 56 to select the information to be added, pressing the desired position selection key 59,
The above-mentioned selected information may be added to the position corresponding to the position selection key 59.

Next, the operation for writing information into the writing frame 38 will be described with reference to FIGS. 10(A) and 10(B).

In the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, write position pulse setting is performed in advance (step SL), and for example, a movement pulse from the home position (HP) to the first writing frame A is set, and a movement pulse is set to A to the next writing frame B. The moving pulse from the last writing frame N to the first writing frame A is set as B. The moving pulse from the last writing frame N to the first writing frame A is set as N.

First, turn on the write mode key 54 (step S
2), the write mode flag is set (step S3), and the recording medium 30 is moved (step S4). At this time, since the write mode flag is set, the process goes to YES in step S5 and detects the HP. It is confirmed whether or not the HP has been detected (step S6), and if the HP is detected, the write mode flag is reset (
If the HP is not detected in step S7), the process returns to step S4, and the recording medium 30 continues to move.

Then, when the write mode flag is reset (step 37), the write frame movement flag A is set (
Step S8) returns to step S4, and the recording medium 30 continues to move, but at this time, confirmation of the position of the recording medium 30 with respect to the HP has been completed.

After the confirmation of the position of the recording medium 3o with respect to the HP is completed in this way, it is confirmed again whether the write mode flag is set (step S5), but at this time, the write mode flag is not set. Therefore, the process goes to the No side in step s5, and it is checked whether the writing frame movement flag A is set (step S9). Then, when the writing frame movement flag A is set, it is confirmed whether or not the movement to the writing frame A has been completed (step S10), and the writing frame A is checked.
When the movement to has been completed, the writing frame movement flag A is reset (step 511), and the recording medium 30 stops with the predetermined writing frame 38 facing the opening 25 (step 512).

Here, in step S9, if the writing frame movement flag A is not set, it is checked whether or not the writing frame movement flag B is set (step S51).
3) When the writing frame movement flag B is set, it is checked whether the movement to the writing frame A has been completed (Step 514), and the movement to the writing frame A has been completed. If so, the writing frame movement flag B is reset (step 515), and the recording medium 30 stops with the predetermined writing frame 38 facing the opening 25 (step 512). Note that in step S14, the writing frame A
If the movement to is not completed, the process returns to step S4.

On the other hand, in step S13, the writing frame movement flag B
is not set, it is checked whether the movement to the next writing frame has been completed (step 516),
When the movement to the next writing frame has been completed, the recording medium 30 stops with the predetermined writing frame 38 facing the opening 25 (step 512), but the movement to the next writing frame has ended. If not, return to step S4.

Then, it is confirmed whether or not the writing frame 38, which has stopped facing the opening 25 as described above, is blank (
In step 517), when the writing frame 38 is blank, desired information can be directly written or pasted in the writing frame 38 (step 51B).

On the other hand, if the writing frame 38 is not blank, it is determined whether or not to erase the previously written information (step 519), and the previously written information is erased (step 520) and new information is written. It can be written on or pasted (step 518).

And if you do not want to erase the previously written information,
Turn on the writing frame update key 55 (step 521)
, when the number of updates becomes +1 (step 522), N
It is determined whether or not the second update has been made (step 523), N
If it is the third update, the writing frame movement flag B is set (step 524), the number of updates becomes 0 (step 525), and the process returns to step S4. That is, if there is no blank space even after pressing the writing frame update key 55 N times,
The recording medium 3o is moved again.

As explained above, when the write mode key 54 is turned on to write desired information, the recording medium 30 stops with one of the write frames 38 provided facing the opening 25 provided in the document holder 3. do. In this case, if the writing frame 38 that is stopped at the position facing the opening 25 is blank, desired information can be written in that state, or the writing frame 38 is not blank and other information has already been written. If it has been written, it is possible to erase it and then write desired information.

Then, another blank writing frame 38 may be searched and stopped so that it faces the opening 25.Furthermore, when other information is written in all the blank writing frames 38, one of them It is also possible to write desired information after erasing information in one.

In the above-described embodiment, the endless belt-shaped recording medium 30 is a cartridge type; however, it is not necessary to do so (for example, the recording medium 30 may be integrally incorporated into the document holder 3). The recording medium 3o does not necessarily have to be endlessly held.In addition, the information to be added to the recording medium 30 can be arbitrarily written or erased in a plurality of fixed information frames 37 in which information is written in a non-erasable manner in advance. However, instead of this, only the plurality of writing frames 38 may be provided.

[Effects of the Invention] Since the present invention is configured as described above, it has the following effects.

■Since it is possible to select and add a plurality of pieces of information recorded on a belt-shaped recording medium, there is no need to replace cards with information written on them as in the conventional example, and the operability is good.

- Since the position at which the selected information is added to the recording paper can be selected, information other than the original image can be added by effectively utilizing the margins of the original.

■With the recording medium attached to the document holder, and
without removing the document holder from the image forming apparatus main body.
Any information can be written on the recording medium.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 to 10 show one embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a heald-shaped recording medium, FIG. 2 is a schematic longitudinal sectional front view of the entire electrostatographic copying machine, and FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional front view of the main part, FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the information cartridge upside down, and FIG. 6 shows the configuration of the information cartridge and the cartridge loading section. FIG. 7 is a schematic plan view of the main parts, FIGS. 8 and 9 are diagrams for explaining the operation, and FIGS. 10 (A) and (B) are for explaining the operation in the write mode. It is a flow chart for explanation. FIG. 11 is a schematic plan view of main parts showing another example of the configuration of the control means. 1... Image forming apparatus main body, 3... Document holder, 25
... Opening, 30... Recording medium, 38... Information free writing frame, 48... Drive means, 57... Control means, p... Recording paper. Applicant: Sanda Kogyo Co., Ltd. Representative: Patent Attorney Hideo Fujimoto Figure 8 Figure 9

Claims (1)

[Claims] In an electrophotographic image forming apparatus that has an information addition function that adds information other than the original image to recording paper, at least arbitrary information is stored below a document holder that is openable and closable at the top of the image forming apparatus main body. A belt-shaped recording medium is provided with a plurality of free information writing frames that can write or erase information, and is configured to be movable in a direction perpendicular to a document scanning direction, and a drive means for moving the recording medium. , an opening is formed in the document holder at a position facing the moving path of the recording medium, and a function of selecting information written on the recording medium and a function of selecting a position to add the selected information to the recording paper are provided. and when the information writing mode is selected, one of the plurality of free information writing frames is stopped so as to face the opening, and any information is written in the free information writing frame through this opening. An image forming apparatus characterized by being able to perform.