JPH06167910A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To form a mirror image of an image read from an original on a translucent film such as an OHP sheet, etc. CONSTITUTION:When an input signal informing of the detection of the OHP sheet is transmitted from a transfer material detector 17, image data transmitted from a CCD 102 is converted to mirror image data by an image processing part under the control of a CPU 100, and then, the output is carried out by a laser output part 10 in accordance with the mirror image data. When the input signal informing of the detection of an untransparent transfer material such as a copying sheet, etc., is transmitted, the output is carried out in accordance with correct image data.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus capable of forming an image on a translucent film.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, a recording medium is not only a print sheet such as plain paper or thermal paper but also a translucent film such as a transparent sheet (OHP sheet) for an overhead projector. It is also possible to form an image.

Among them, in particular, an OHP sheet used in a full-color image forming apparatus has a special surface for improving translucency of toner on a surface (copy surface) on which a copy image of the OHP sheet is to be formed. It has a coating. Therefore, it was necessary to specify the copy surface of the OHP sheet by some method so that the copy can be correctly made on the coated surface.

For example, as shown in FIG. 1, an OHP sheet for a digital full-color copying machine CF-70 manufactured by Minolta Camera Co., Ltd. is printed with a character "Omotei" on the OHP sheet. Instructing. That is, as shown in FIG. 2, the user places the OHP sheet 1 on the manual feed tray 4 provided on the side surface of the main body of the copying machine with the surface on which the instruction character 2 (the character "front") is printed facing up. When it is inserted into the manual paper feed port 3, the image is accurately formed on the copy surface.

In the copying machine, a U-shaped transfer material conveying path called a U-turn path is provided in the main body of the copying machine,
A transfer drum for winding the transfer material is provided so as to be surrounded by the turn path.

With such a configuration, for example, when a transfer material is inserted from the manual paper feed port to make a copy, the transfer material conveyed to the transfer portion is wound around the transfer drum and inserted into the manual paper feed port. An image is formed on the surface of the transfer material, which is the lower side when the image is transferred. Then, the sheet is reversed along the U-turn path and, as shown in FIG. 3, the image-formed surface is faced up, and the sheet is discharged from the discharge port 5 provided above the manual sheet feeding port 3 to the discharge tray 6. To be done.

For this reason, in the copying machine, it is necessary to insert the OHP sheet into the manual paper feed port 3 with the copy surface facing down, and the instruction character 2 on the OHP sheet 1 for the copying machine is actually Is printed on the side different from the coated copy side. Therefore, in the OHP sheet on which the image is formed as described above, the letters "front" are mirror characters when the copy surface is viewed upward.

[0008]

However, when the OHP sheet thus image-formed is set on the OHP (overhead projector) and projected on the screen, there are the following problems. That is, OH
In order to project the normal image of the image formed on the P sheet on the screen, it must be set on the OHP with the copy surface facing up, but by mistake, the surface to be copied is indicated. In accordance with the letters "Front", the copy surface is set down on the OHP, and the projected image 5 on the screen 51 by the OHP 50 as shown in FIG.
In No. 2, there is a problem that the original image becomes a mirror image.

Further, copying to an OHP sheet has the following problems. OHP sheets are usually used at conference presentations, etc., and image-formed OHP sheets are used.
In many cases, a supplementary description is added to the sheet with a felt-tip pen, which is a marker for OHP, an underline is drawn to draw the attention of the visitor, or a color is applied for good identification.

The OHP marker is a dedicated eraser and can be erased if necessary. However, with this dedicated eraser, the toner image formed on the OHP sheet is erased, or even thinned, if not erased. For this reason, normally, writing with the OHP marker is performed on the surface without the toner image 53 as shown in FIG. 5, and even if the writing 54 with the OHP marker is erased with an eraser, the toner image 53 remains. I had no influence.

However, this causes a problem that, for example, when writing a character with the OHP marker, the character must be written as a mirror character.

The present invention solves such a problem by
An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of matching the direction characters printed on a translucent film with the orientation of an image formed on the translucent film. Another object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of forming an image on a transparent film so that characters can be easily written on the transparent film on which an image is formed.

[0013]

An image forming apparatus according to the invention of claim 1 is an image providing unit for providing an image, and an image for forming the image provided by the image providing unit on a recording medium such as paper. An image forming apparatus including a forming unit,
The image forming unit forms a normal image of an image provided by the image providing unit on a recording medium, and a mirror image of a mirror image of the image provided by the image providing unit on a recording medium. A sheet feeding unit for feeding a recording medium to the image forming unit; a determining unit for determining whether the recording medium in the sheet feeding unit is a translucent film; When the determination means determines that the recording medium in the paper feeding means is a translucent film, the mirror image forming means controls the translucent film to form a mirror image on the translucent film. If it is determined that the normal image is not formed, the normal image forming unit is provided with a control unit that controls to form a normal image on the recording medium.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein the paper feeding means places the recording medium substantially horizontally with respect to the apparatus main body, and the placing means. A transport path for transporting a recording medium from the placing means to the image forming means, and further, the image forming means forms an image on a surface of the recording medium which is a lower side when the recording medium is placed on the placing means. It is characterized in that it is provided to do.

[0015]

According to the first aspect of the invention, when the determining means determines that the recording medium in the paper feeding means is opaque, the normal image forming means records the normal image of the image sent from the image providing means. Form on the medium. When the determination means determines that the recording medium in the paper feeding means is a translucent film, the mirror image forming means forms a mirror image of the image sent from the image providing means on the translucent film.

According to the second aspect of the invention, the image formation by the image forming means of the first aspect is performed on the surface of the recording medium which is the lower side when the recording medium is placed on the placing means.

[0017]

FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing the structure of a digital full-color copying machine showing an embodiment of the present invention. The copy process will be briefly described with reference to FIG.

The original set on the original table 7 is read by the optical system 8
Then, the document image is scanned and projected onto the reading unit 9.
In the reading unit 9, the document is read by an image pickup device (CCD) (not shown) and quantized through red, green, and blue (R, G, B) filters (not shown). After that, after image processing such as density conversion and color correction processing is performed by an image processing unit (not shown), each color image data is
It is sequentially transferred to the laser output unit 10.

The laser output unit 10 outputs a laser beam based on the transferred image data of each color, and the photoconductor 1
An image is formed on 1 to form an electrostatic latent image. The electrostatic latent image thus formed is developed by the developing device 12 and becomes a toner image. The developing device 12 includes a developing device having a color toner corresponding to each color image data, and these are selected by an elevator type moving unit.

On the other hand, the transfer material 1 conveyed by the paper feed roller 14 from the cassette paper feed unit 13 or the manual paper feed port 3 is held by the transfer drum 15 having a holding means. The toner images of the respective colors formed on the photoconductor 11 are superposed and transferred onto the transfer material 1 at a transfer portion indicated by an arrow T in the figure. After that, the transfer material 1 is separated from the transfer drum 15, and the toner image is fixed on the fixing portion 16, and then the discharge port 5
Is discharged to the discharge tray 6.

A color copy is formed on the transfer material by the above process.

In the copying machine of FIG. 6, the transfer material inserted from the manual paper feed port 3 passes through the U-turn path type conveyance path C. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 7, when the transfer material is inserted from the manual paper feed port 3 to perform copying, if the upper surface is the A surface and the lower surface is the B surface, the toner image 53 is formed at the transfer portion T. Is the B surface, and the surface that is on the upper side when discharged is the B surface that is the copy surface.

A transfer material detecting device 17 for detecting the presence and type of the transfer material is provided inside the main body of the copying machine near the manual paper feed port 3.

A transfer material detecting device 1 will be described with reference to FIGS.
The configuration and operation of No. 7 will be described. 8 is an enlarged view of the transfer material detecting device 17 shown in FIG. 6, and FIG. 9 is a plan view of the transfer material detecting device 17.

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the transfer material detecting device 17 includes a paper detecting portion 18 for detecting the presence or absence of the transfer material at the manual paper feed port, and whether the transfer material is transparent or opaque. The light-transmissive film detection unit 19 and two detection units.

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the paper detection unit 18 is an L-shaped lever 20 that mechanically contacts the transfer material.
And a transmissive photosensor 21 having a light projecting portion 21a and a light receiving portion 21b. The lever 20 is swingably supported around a bent portion 20a by a support shaft 22 along the plane of FIG. 8, and normally one end 20b thereof is located between the light projecting portion 21a and the light receiving portion 21b of the photosensor. The optical path is blocked and the other end 20c is located in the transfer material transport path.

When the transfer material 1'is placed on the manual paper feed tray 4 and inserted through the manual paper feed opening 3 to a position where it comes into contact with the paper feed roller 14, the transfer material 1'contacts one end 20c of the lever 20 and the lever 20 One end 20c of 20 is pushed up in the direction shown by arrow D in FIG. At this time, the other end 20b
Is pushed up in the direction shown by arrow E in FIG.
The light emitted from the light projecting section 21a of the sensor 21 reaches the light receiving section 21b.

Therefore, when the transfer material is not inserted into the manual paper feed port 3, the light from the light projecting portion 21a is blocked and the sensor 21 is turned off. Further, when the transfer material is inserted into the manual paper feed port 3, the light from the light projecting section 21a reaches the light receiving section 21b, and the sensor 21 is turned on.

On the other hand, the transparent film detecting section 19 is shown in FIG.
As shown in, the reflection type photo sensor 23 is composed of a light projecting section 23a and a light receiving section 23b, and is provided above the transfer material conveying path. The light projecting surface of the light projecting portion 23a and the light receiving surface of the light receiving portion 23b are directed to the transfer material conveying path below. As shown in FIG. 8, if an opaque transfer material 1 ', such as a copy sheet, is present on the transport path, the projected light impinges on it and is reflected to enter the light receiving portion 23b. In this case, the sensor 23 is turned on. If there is no transfer material on the transport path or if there is a translucent film, the light from the light projecting portion is not reflected and the sensor 23 is turned off.

The presence / absence and the type of the transfer material are detected based on the on / off signals of the two detecting portions performing the above-mentioned operations. The detection matrix is shown in FIG. When both the paper detection unit 18 and the translucent film detection unit 19 are turned on, the transfer material inserted from the manual paper feed port 3 is
When it is determined that the transfer material is an opaque transfer material such as copy paper, and the paper detection unit 18 is on and the translucent film detection unit 19 is off, it is determined that the translucent film. If both sensors are off, it is determined that there is no transfer material.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram of the control circuit of the copying machine of this embodiment. Original image data read by the CCD 102 is sent to the image processing unit 101. here,
A control signal is sent from the central processing unit (CPU) 100 based on the signal input from the transfer material detection device 17,
Image processing is performed. That is, the OH
When the P sheet is inserted, the image processing unit 101 forms mirror image data based on the image data sent from the CCD 102, and the image processing unit 101 sends the mirror image data to the laser output unit 10. On the other hand, in the case of an opaque transfer material such as copy paper, the CCD 102
The normal image data is formed based on the image data sent from the image processing unit 101, and the normal image data is sent from the image processing unit 101 to the laser output unit 10.

FIG. 12 is a flow chart showing the copying operation of the copying machine. When the power of the copying machine main body is turned on, initial setting for the standard copying mode is performed (S1). Next, in step S2, the internal timer of the CPU is started. This timer manages one routine time required for the following control.

In step S3, a series of copying operations including detection of the transfer material are performed. Details of the copying operation will be described later.

In step S4, other processing such as displaying necessary information on the operation panel or the like is performed. In step S5, it is judged whether or not the internal timer has ended, and when it has ended, the process returns to step S2 again, and thereafter, the processes of steps S2 to S5 are repeatedly executed.

FIG. 13 is a flow chart showing details of the copying process of FIG. In step S31, the transfer material inserted in the manual paper feed port 3 is detected. Step S3
If it is determined in 2 that the transfer material inserted in the manual paper feed port 3 is a translucent film, the process proceeds to step S33, the image processing unit 101 enters the mirror image mode, and the image read from the original is image processed. Image processing is performed in the unit 101 to obtain mirror image data.

When it is determined that the transfer material is not the translucent film, the process proceeds to step S34, the image processing unit 101 performs the image processing in the normal mode, and the image read from the original is regarded as the image data of the normal image. Become. If it is determined that the transfer material is not inserted in the manual paper feed port 3, the process directly returns.

In step S35, an image is formed on the transfer material based on the image-processed data. After this, the flow returns.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a state in which an original printed with "copy" is copied onto an OHP sheet by the copying machine of this embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 2, the transfer material OHP is used.
When the sheet is inserted into the manual feed port 3 according to the instruction character 2, when the OHP sheet is inserted into the manual feed port 3,
The copy is made on the lower surface of the OHP sheet 1.

At this time, the transfer material detecting device 17 determines that the transfer material 1 is an OHP sheet, and the mirror image mode is set. Therefore, as shown in FIG. The mirror image of is copied and ejected. In the OHP sheet thus obtained, the direction of the instruction character 2 and the direction of the toner image are the same.

The OHP sheet thus image-formed is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5, even when the OHP is set in accordance with the character "front" indicating the surface to be copied and projected on the screen, a projected image as the original is obtained. Therefore, the conventional problem that a mirror image is projected on the screen when it is set on the OHP in accordance with the character "Front" is solved.

When writing characters on the OHP sheet with the OHP marker, it is possible to easily perform the writing on the surface opposite to the side having the toner image while observing the normal image of the original image copied on the OHP sheet. it can.

In this embodiment, the full-color copying machine for forming an image on the surface of the transfer material, which is the lower side when the transfer material is inserted into the manual feed port, has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. In any image forming apparatus capable of forming an image on an OHP sheet, such as one using an unprocessed OHP sheet or a copying machine having a straight path,
If a mirror image is output when the HP sheet is detected, the problem of writing with the OHP marker can be solved.

[0044]

As described above, the invention of claim 1 is as follows.
Since the mirror image forming means forms a mirror image of the image read from the original on the translucent film, it is possible to easily write characters and the like on the surface different from the surface on which the image is formed by the dedicated marker.

As described above, the invention of claim 2 forms a mirror image of the image read from the original on the surface of the transparent film which is the lower side when the transparent film is mounted on the mounting means. Therefore, the instruction character for instructing the image formation can be matched with the orientation of the image, and O
Can be set to HP.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an OHP sheet for a full-color copying machine.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram when the OHP sheet 1 of FIG. 1 is inserted into a manual sheet feeding port 3.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing that the OHP sheet 1 of FIG. 2 has been copied through a U-turn path.

4 is a schematic diagram when the OHP sheet 1 of FIG. 3 is projected on a screen 51 by an OHP 50. FIG.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a positional relationship between a toner image 53 on an OHP sheet and writing 54 by an OHP marker.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing an overall configuration of a copying machine showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing an operation when a transfer material passes through a U-turn path to form an image.

8 is a sectional view showing a detailed configuration of the transfer material detecting device 17 shown in FIG.

9 is a plan view of the transfer material detecting device 17 of FIG.

10 is a diagram showing a matrix for detecting a transfer material by the transfer material detecting device 17. FIG.

11 is a block diagram showing a control circuit of the copying machine shown in FIG.

12 is a flowchart showing control of the copying machine of FIG.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing details of the copy processing routine of FIG.

14 is a schematic diagram showing that the OHP sheet 1 is copied through the U-turn path of the copying machine of FIG.

15 is a schematic diagram when the OHP sheet 1 of FIG. 14 is projected on a screen 51 by an OHP 50. FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 OHP Sheet 2 Instruction Character 3 Manual Feed Port 10 Laser Output Unit 17 Transfer Material Detection Device 100 CPU 101 Image Processing Device 102 CCD C U Turn Path

Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁵ Identification number Office reference number FI technical display location H04N 1/23 103 Z 9186-5C

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus comprising: an image providing unit for providing an image; and an image forming unit for forming the image provided by the image providing unit on a recording medium such as a sheet. A normal image forming means for forming a normal image of the image provided by the image providing means on a recording medium, and a mirror image forming means for forming a mirror image of the image provided by the image providing means on the recording medium. Further, a paper feeding means for feeding a recording medium to the image forming means, a judging means for judging whether the recording medium in the paper feeding means is a translucent film, and the judging means for supplying the recording medium. When it is determined that the recording medium in the paper means is a translucent film, the mirror image forming means is controlled so as to form a mirror image on the translucent film, and it is determined that the recording medium is not a translucent film. In the case, It means an image forming apparatus, wherein a and a control means for controlling to form a positive image on the recording medium. 2. The paper feeding means comprises a placing means for placing the recording medium substantially horizontally with respect to the main body of the apparatus, and a conveying path for conveying the recording medium from the placing means to the image forming means. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming unit is provided so as to form an image on a surface of the recording medium which is a lower side when the recording medium is placed on the placing unit.