JPH06164790A - Digital copying machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make copies automatically till number of copies reaches a certain number and to store the copied sheets by providing for the copying machine with a CPU means reading prescribed picture data from a RAM and a full detection means executing copying till number of copies reaches a certain number. CONSTITUTION:A CPU74 reads prescribed picture data from a form memory 73 and a full detection means executes copying till number of copies reaches a certain number. Then bins 3 separated for every form are provided in a sorter 34 and copy number is detected for every bin. Then a picture memory circuit 70 reads an original of a form with numbers frequency of use and writes the data. Then picture data of the original read by a CCD42 are read based on timing control and written in the RAM73 via the CPU74. When copies of a format are deficient in the sorter 34, picture data are read from the RAM73 or automatic coping operation is performed by the operation of detection means 1a-1c or switch means 2a-2c. Then the data are copied and stored till number of copies for every bin reaches a certain number.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a digital copying machine, and more particularly to an improvement of a digital copying machine for automatically copying a document of a format which is frequently used.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, the progress of copiers has been remarkably remarkable, and new models with various functions have been competingly proposed by various companies. On the other hand, there is a tendency that demands for easy operation and labor saving as well as higher image quality are increasing. For example, in office departments, a document of a format (format) that is very frequently used is often seen, and it is common to copy the form of such a document by using a copying machine. Normally, even if a large number of copies are stored in advance, they will be out of stock soon because they are frequently used, so the person in charge of copying will bring the original document of that format to the copy machine. It is a common practice to make a large number of copies and then bring them back.

[0003]

However, in general,
If the document is used frequently, it will be out of stock many times a day, and each time the person in charge takes the manuscript out of the file and goes to the place of the copying machine, if there are many users, it will wait in order. Etc. are also required, then set the original on the copier, take many copies and take it home,
A series of work is required. This is really cumbersome, and if most of the above tasks are automated,
It is a great labor-saving and user-friendly operation for users, but so far no proposal has been made to solve such problems. Therefore, the object of the present invention is to pre-read a document of a format that is frequently used in advance.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a digital copying machine having a function of being read into an AM and automatically copying and accumulating until the number of copies is reduced to a substantially constant number when the number of copies decreases.

[0004]

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above problems, and its gist is to automatically replenish a copy of a frequently used format and always A digital copying machine having a function of accumulating a substantially fixed number of sheets in a sorter, including a RAM for storing document image data of the frequently used format, and dedicated for each format in the sorter. A means for providing a bottle and further for detecting the decrease in the number of sheets provided for each bin, or for pressing the switch means to be pressed at an arbitrary time point during the decrease of the number of sheets According to the present invention, there is provided a digital copying machine provided with CPU means for reading out predetermined image data from the RAM and full detection means for executing copying until a predetermined number of sheets are reached.

[0005]

According to the present invention, a manuscript having a frequently used format is read into the RAM in advance, and when the number of formats decreases, the originals are provided in dedicated bins divided in the sorter for the format. The image data of a predetermined format is read out from the RAM by either the detection by the detected detection means or by pressing the switch means provided in the exclusive bin in the same manner, and each exclusive bin becomes full. It is configured to make copies automatically until it is detected, so copier users can
The operation of operating the copying machine for copying can be omitted, and considerable labor saving can be expected.

[0006]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing the overall construction of a digital copying machine which is an embodiment of a screen image forming apparatus equipped with a sheet conveying device used in the present invention. As shown in the figure, the digital copying machine 30 of this embodiment includes a scanner unit 31,
A laser printer unit 32, a multi-stage paper feeding unit 33, and a sorter 34 are provided. The scanner section 31 is composed of a document placing table 35 made of transparent glass, a double-sided automatic document feeder (RDF) 36, and a scanner unit 40. The multi-stage paper feeding unit 33 includes a first cassette 51,
It has a second cassette 52, a third cassette 53, and a fifth cassette 55 that can be optionally added. In the multi-stage sheet feeding unit 33, the sheets are fed out one by one from the sheets stored in the cassettes of the respective stages, and the laser printer unit 3
It is transported to 2.

The RDF 36 sets a plurality of originals at one time, automatically feeds the originals one by one to the scanner unit 40, and one side or both sides of the originals is set to the scanner unit 40 according to the operator's selection. It is configured to be read. The scanner unit 40 exposes a document to a lamp reflector assembly 41, a plurality of reflecting mirrors 43 for guiding a reflected light image from the document to a photoelectric conversion element (CCD) 42, and a reflected light beam from the document to form an image on the CCD 42. Lens 44. Scanner unit 3
When scanning an original placed on the original placing table 35, the reference numeral 1 is configured so that the scanner unit 40 moves along the lower surface of the original placing table 35 to read the original image, and the RDF 36 is used. In this case, the document image is read while the document is being conveyed while the scanner unit 40 is stopped at a predetermined position below the RDF 36.

The image data obtained by reading the original image with the scanner unit 40 is sent to an image processing section (not shown), which will be described later, and subjected to various processing, and then temporarily stored in the memory of the image processing section. In response to the output instruction, the image data in the memory is given to the laser printer unit 32 to form an image on the paper. The laser printer unit 32 includes a manual document tray 45, a laser writing unit 46, and an electrophotographic process 47 for forming an image. The laser writing unit 46 is a semiconductor laser that emits a laser beam according to the image data from the above-mentioned memory, a polygon mirror that deflects the laser beam at a constant angular velocity, and a laser beam that is deflected at a constant angular velocity is exposed by the electrophotographic process section 47. F for correction so that the body drum 48 is deflected at a constant speed
It has a -θ lens and the like. The electrophotographic process 47
In accordance with a known aspect, a charger around the photosensitive drum 48,
A developing device, a transfer device, a peeling device, a cleaning device, a static eliminator, and a fixing device 49 are arranged.

A transport path 50 is provided on the downstream side of the fixing device 49 in the transport direction of the sheet on which the image is to be formed. The transport path 50 is connected to the transport path 57 leading to the sorter 34 and the multi-stage sheet feeding unit 33. It branches into a communication path 58 which is in communication. The conveyance path 58 is branched in the multi-stage sheet feeding unit 33, and a reversal conveyance path 50a and a double-sided / composite conveyance path 50b are provided as the conveyance paths after branching. Reverse transport path 5
0a is a double-sided copy mode for copying both sides of the original,
A conveyance path for reversing the front and back of a sheet. The double-sided / composite conveyance path 50b is the reverse conveyance path 5 in the double-sided copy mode.
In the single-sided synthetic copy mode, the sheet is conveyed from 0a to the image forming position of the photosensitive drum 48, or the image is formed on one side of the sheet with different original images or toners of different colors. Photoconductor drum 48
Is a transport path for transporting to the image forming position.

The multi-stage sheet feeding unit 33 includes a common transport path 56, which is connected to the first cassette 51 and the second cassette 51.
The sheets from the cassette 52 and the third cassette 53 are carried out toward the electrophotographic process section 47. The common conveyance path 56 merges with the conveyance path 59 from the fifth cassette 55 on the way to the electrophotographic process section 47, and communicates with the conveyance path 60. The conveying path 60 joins the double-sided / composite conveying path 50b and the conveying path 61 from the manual document tray 45 at a confluence point 62 to reach an image forming position between the photoconductor drum 48 of the electrostatic photography process section 47 and the transfer device. The confluence points 62 of these three conveyance paths are provided near the image forming position.

Therefore, in the laser writing unit 46 and the electrophotographic process section 47, the image data read from the above-mentioned memory is the laser writing unit 46.
The toner image formed as an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photoconductor drum 48 by scanning with a laser beam is visualized with toner, and the toner image is statically formed on the surface of the sheet conveyed from the multi-stage sheet feeding unit 33. It is electrotransferred and fixed. The sheet on which the image is thus formed is sent from the fixing device 49 to the sorter 34 via the transport paths 50 and 57, or is transported to the reverse transport path 50a via the transport paths 50 and 58. The common transport path 56 is an embodiment of the first transport path of the present invention. Inversion transport path 50a and double-sided / composite transport path 50b
Is an embodiment of the second conveyance path of the present invention. The first cassette 51, the second cassette 52, and the third cassette 53 are one embodiment of the paper feeding unit of the present invention.

Next, the digital copying machine 30 of this embodiment is used.
The configuration and function of the image processing unit included in will be described.
2 is a block diagram of an image processing unit included in the digital copying machine 30 shown in FIG. Digital copier 30
The image processing unit included in includes an image data input unit 70, an image processing unit 71, an image data output unit 72, a memory 73 including a RAM (random access memory), and a central processing unit (CPU) 74. There is. The image data input unit 70 includes a CCD unit 70a and a histogram processing unit 70.
b and the error diffusion processing unit 70c. The image processing unit input unit 70 processes the image data by the error diffusion method while binarizing and converting the image data of the document read from the CCD 42 of FIG. It is configured to store once in 73.

That is, in the CCD section 70a, after the analog electric signal corresponding to each pixel density of the image data is A / D converted, MTF correction, black and white correction or gamma correction is performed,
It is output to the histogram processing unit 70b as a digital signal of 256 gradations (8 bits). In the histogram processing unit 70b, the digital signal output from the CCD unit 70a is added for each pixel density of 256 gradations to obtain density information (histogram data), and if necessary,
The obtained histogram data is sent to the CPU 74 or as pixel data to the error diffusion processing unit 70c.
In the error diffusion processing unit 70c, the error diffusion method which is a kind of pseudo halftone processing, that is, the method of reflecting the binarization error in the binarization judgment of the adjacent pixel, outputs 8 bits / pixel from the CCD unit 70a. The digital signal of 1 bit (2
Value), and the redistribution operation is performed to faithfully reproduce the local area density in the original. The image processing unit 71 includes multi-valued processing units 71a and 71b, a combination processing unit 71c, a density conversion processing unit 71d, a scaling processing unit 71e, an image processing unit 71f, an error diffusion processing unit 71g, and a compression processing unit 71.
h is included.

The image processing unit 71 is a processing unit for finally converting the input image data into image data desired by the operator, and until the image data is finally stored in the memory 73 as the converted output image data. The processing unit is configured to process. However, each of the above-mentioned processing units included in the image processing unit 71 functions as necessary and may not function. That is, the multi-value processing unit 71a
And 71b, the data binarized by the error diffusion processing unit 70c is converted into 256 gradations again. Synthesis processing unit 71
In c, a logical operation for each pixel, that is, a logical sum, a logical product, or an exclusive logical sum is selectively performed. The data to be calculated is the pixel data stored in the memory 73 and the bit data from the pattern generator (PG).

In the density conversion processing section 71d, the relationship between the input density and the output density is arbitrarily set for the 256 gradation digital signal based on a predetermined gradation conversion table. In the scaling processing unit 71e, pixel data (density value) for the target pixel after scaling is obtained by performing interpolation processing based on the input known data according to the instructed scaling ratio, and the sub-scanning is varied. After being multiplied, the main scanning is subjected to a scaling process. In the image processing unit 71f, various image processes may be performed on the input pixel data, and information collection such as feature extraction may be performed on the data string. The error diffusion processing unit 71g performs the same processing as the error diffusion processing unit 70c of the image data input unit 70. Compression processing unit 71h
Then, binary data is compressed by the encoding called run length. Regarding the compression of image data, the compression functions in the final processing loop when the final output image data is completed.

The image data output unit 72 includes a restoration unit 72a, a multilevel halftoning processing unit 72b, an error diffusion processing unit 72c, and a laser output unit 72d. The image data output unit 72 restores the image data stored in the memory 73 in a compressed state, converts the image data into the original 256 gradations again, and corrects the error of the four-valued data which is a smoother halftone expression than the binary data. Diffusion,
It is configured to transfer data to the laser output unit 72d. That is, the decompression unit 72a decompresses the image data compressed by the compression processing unit 71h. The multilevel halftoning processing unit 72b performs the same processing as the multilevel halftoning processing units 71a and 71b of the image processing unit 71. Error diffusion processing unit 72
In c, the error diffusion processing unit 70c of the image data input unit 70
Processing similar to is performed.

In the laser output section 72d, the digital pixel data is converted into a laser on / off signal based on a control signal from a sequence controller (not shown), and the laser is turned on / off. The data handled by the image data input unit 70 and the image data output unit 72 is basically 2 in order to reduce the capacity of the memory 73.
Although it is stored in the memory 73 in the form of value data, it is also possible to process it in the form of four-valued data in consideration of the deterioration of the image data.

Next, among the above digital copying machines,
In particular, the configuration of the sorter 34, which is the object of improvement according to the present invention, will be described in more detail. An example of a mode of the sorter 34 according to the present invention is shown in the schematic explanatory views of FIGS. Figure 3 (A)
In (B), 1a, 1b and 1c shown in (A) are sheet number detecting means described later, and 2a, 2b and 2c shown in (B).
Similarly, the switch means, which will be described later, is the same as the conventional sorter in terms of the configuration of the sorter 34 other than these. That is, as shown in the schematic explanatory view of FIG. 3A, the sorter 34 has a plurality of bins (shelf plates) 3 for sorting the copied products, while shifting the bins 3. It has a mechanism and a sheet switching / conveying mechanism for sorting the copied sheets into the respective bins 3.

First, 4 is a stapler guide bar,
It is provided so as to be swung via a gear when the motor 5 is driven. Further, 6 is a fixed shaft roller, and 7 is a roller provided so as to be vertically movable corresponding to the shelf plate of each bin 3. Next, as shown in FIG. 1, the right side of FIG. 3 is connected to the paper discharge side from the fixing side. In FIG. 3, 11 is a paper feeding / conveying roller, and the sorter paper entering detector 10 In addition, the sheet is delivered to the transport roller 13 via the gate switching claw 9 which is biased by the gate switching solenoid 8, and further, the paper pressing roller 15 is biased by the paper pressing solenoid 16 via the sorter paper passing detector 12. The copied sheets are configured to be sorted into the respective bins via the sheet discharging roller 14 and the sheet discharging roller 14.

In the present invention, with respect to the sorter 34, in addition to the above configuration, as shown in FIG. 3 (A), for example, the upper three stages 3a, 3b, 3c of the bin 3 are used frequently ( Format) Separate dedicated bins are provided with sheet number detecting means 1a, 1b, 1c on the respective paper input sides. As the sheet number detecting means 1a to 1b, means for detecting the fullness (empty) or the empty (empty) of the sheet for each of the dedicated bins 3a, 3b and 3c is provided, and for example, an actuator or a photo sensor is used. Is effective. In this case, the detection means 1a
The operations of 1 to 1c are, as will be described later, the exclusive bin 3a.
3a to 3c, when the format is detected, this is detected and the image data stored in the RAM is read to automatically start copying. When the dedicated bins 3a to 3c are filled with paper, the detection means 1a to 3c are detected. Copying is automatically stopped by 1c, and copying is automatically stopped. At this time, copying is performed before the exclusive bin is completely empty, for example, when it is reduced to about 1/3 of full capacity. It is possible to set the operation to start automatically and can be carried out relatively arbitrarily by known means.

Further, in the present invention, it is also possible to completely and automatically replenish the sheets in accordance with the decrease of the sheets by the sheet number detecting means 1a to 1c as described above.
It is also possible to provide the switch means 2a, 2b, 2c as shown in (B) and press the switch means at any time to replenish the paper. That is, FIG. 3B is a partial schematic explanatory view showing a mode in which the switch means 2a, 2b, 2c are provided in the (B) portion of the bin portion 3 in FIG. The user may arbitrarily press the switch means 2a to 2c in consideration of the time when the sheets in the bins 3a to 3c have decreased. In this case, after pressing the switch means 2a to 2c, the copy operation is automatically started to read the image data from the RAM, and when the dedicated bins 3a to 3c are filled with paper, the detecting means 1a to Copying is automatically stopped by the full detection function of 1c.

These operations will be described below with reference to the block diagram of FIG. That is, FIG. 4 is a block diagram for schematically explaining means for carrying out automatic supply by designating a dedicated bin by copying a format frequently used in the present invention. In the figure, first, the number control of the number of formats in the sorter 34 is performed by the number detection means 1a, 1
The case where the full / empty detection means b and 1c are used will be described. For example, when the format in the dedicated bin 3a shown in FIG. 3 is reduced to 1/3, the number detection means 1a, for example, a photo sensor is activated. If it is set, at the time of the decrease, the CPU 74 uses the route (a) in FIG.
To the format memory RAM 7 from the CPU 74.
A signal goes to the route 3 via the route (b) to read the image data in the format in the dedicated bin 3a. The read image data is returned to the CPU 74 via the path (c), and the image output unit 72 shown in FIG. 2 outputs the laser beam from the laser oscillator to automatically make a copy. When the exclusive bin 3a becomes full, this is again detected by the sheet number detecting means 1a, and the copying is automatically stopped by the signal from the path (d).

Next, referring to FIG. 4, the case where the number of formats in the sorter 34 is controlled by the format printing dedicated switch of the switch means 2a, 2b, 2c will be described. For example, the format in the dedicated bin 3a shown in FIG. When the switch means 2a is pressed at any time before the empty state, a signal is issued to the CPU 74 through the route (e) shown in FIG. 4, and thereafter, the same as in the case of using the number detecting means 1a. A copy is automatically taken via the routes (b) and (c). When the exclusive bin 3a becomes full, this is detected by the full detection function of the sheet number detecting means 1a, and the route (f)
The signal automatically stops copying. In addition,
In the examples of FIGS. 3 and 4, the number of dedicated bins is three, but this is merely an example, and the number is arbitrary depending on the number of shelves in the sorter 34 and the type of format. The number of sheets can be selected, and the number of sheets detecting means 1 and the switching means 2 may be appropriately increased or decreased according to the number of dedicated bins.

Further, in FIG. 4, an image memory circuit 70 is provided.
2 corresponds to the image data input unit 70 of FIG. 2 described above, and is an input unit for reading and writing the document of the format described above that is frequently used as image data. , As shown in FIG.
The image data of the original read from D42 is read based on the timing control, and once the RA
This is written in M73. This allows the sorter 3
When a format shortage occurs in No. 4, the image data is read from the RAM 73 and an automatic copy operation is performed by the operation of the above-mentioned detecting means 1a to 1c or the switch means 2a to 2c. The RA
Needless to say, the M73 is provided with an area used for normal copy processing as shown in FIG. 2 and an area for storing reserved copy conditions or image data in the reserved mode.

[0025]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to read in a RAM a document of a format that is frequently used, in advance, and automatically copy and store it until a fixed number of copies is obtained when the number of copies decreases. Therefore, each time the format is out of stock, the person in charge can go to the copy machine and make a large number of copies each time. It is extremely large that it contributes to labor saving.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the overall structure of a copying machine used in the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an image processing unit included in the copying machine of FIG.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an outline of a configuration of a sorter of the copying machine of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an operation of automatic replenishment of a format by the sorter of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

1a, 1b, 1c Number of sheets detecting means 2a, 2b, 2c Switch means 3 Bins 3a, 3b, 3c Dedicated bottle 4 Stapler guide bar 5 Motor 6,7 Roller 8,16 Solenoid 9 Gate switching claw 10 Paper entry detector 11, 13, 14, 15 Roller 12 Paper passing detector 30 Copier 31 Scanner unit 32 Laser printer unit 33 Multi-stage paper feeding unit 34 Sorter 35 Document loading table 36 RDF 40 Scanner unit 45 Manual feed tray 46 Laser writing unit 47 Electrophotographic process unit 48 Photoreceptor Drum 49 Fixing device 50, 50a, 50b, 56, 57, 58, 59, 6
0,61 Conveyance path 51,52,53,55 Cassette 62 Confluence point 70 Image data input unit 71 Image processing unit 72 Image data output unit 73 Memory 74 CPU

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A digital copying machine having a function of automatically replenishing a copy of a frequently-used format so that a substantially constant number of sheets are always stored in a sorter, and original image data of the frequently-used format. Of the memory, a dedicated bin for each format is provided in the sorter, and the number of sheets is detected by the sheet number detecting means for detecting the reduction of the number of sheets provided for each bin or the number of sheets. CPU means for reading out predetermined image data from the RAM by any one of the means for pressing the switch means which is pressed at any time during the decrease of A digital copying machine characterized by that.