JPH07199565A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To facilitate arrangement of sorting, etc., without coexistence of a document received by facsimile, a print, etc., by changing the direction of the document in each output at the time of ejecting an image transfer medium from the same ejecting means. CONSTITUTION:In the independent ejection of one document or a consecutive ejection of a group of two or more documents, for instance, data transferred from another facsimile or a CPU, reception at one time is made one output and the direction of the document is changed in one output unit. This method is executed by feeding from a cassette whose direction is different, a change in a printing direction or the combination of these. In the case of receiving facsimile, a function for deciding the reception at one time as one output and a function for judging the size of a paper sheet based on the received data to decide the selection of feeding parts 26a-26c and making a decision including the fact that an image is to be rotated or not based on the held decided data are provided in the CPU 72, ROM 73 and RAM 74 of a composite digital copying machine 2.

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 such as a facsimile apparatus, a printer apparatus, a single apparatus such as a copying machine, or a composite apparatus, and more particularly to recording a formed image on a sheet and discharging it from a sheet discharging section. The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that discharges a document.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A composite digital copying machine having functions of a copying machine, a facsimile, a printer, etc. is known.

This type of copying machine is provided with, for example, one paper discharge tray on which discharged paper is placed, and an A4 horizontal cassette, A4 vertical cassette, and A3 cassette for feeding paper. In this composite digital copying machine, when the copying machine is used, the user directly operates the machine to make a copy, and the copy is taken away, so that the copy is left on the discharge tray for a long time. However, when used as a fax machine or printer, the machine operates due to communication from the other party's facsimile machine or personal computer side, so if reception continues, documents or printed materials with different purposes are printed sequentially. The received document or the printed matter is discharged onto the discharge tray.

[0004]

However, in this case, if the sheets are not removed from the discharge tray, they will be stacked, and it will be difficult to distinguish how much they are in one group, making sorting difficult.

Therefore, according to the present invention, the feeding direction of the discharged paper is changed for each output, or the image is rotated for printing, and it is possible to discriminate how much the discharged papers are piled up. The purpose of the present invention is to provide an easy-to-use image forming apparatus that enables easy organization and management of discharged documents.

[0006]

An image forming apparatus according to the present invention comprises a discharging means for discharging an image transfer medium on which an image has been formed, and a discharging medium mounting means for mounting the image transfer medium discharged by the discharging means. Output direction changing means for changing the direction of the image transfer medium (document) discharged to the discharge medium placing means in units of one output. As the output direction changing means,
Alternately using the supply transfer medium placement means for placing the same document in different directions in units of one output, and changing the printing direction of the image transfer medium in units of one output and the means for discharging in different directions for each output. There is also a printing direction changing means, and either one may be used. When both means are provided, a means for operating at least one of the placement direction of the image transfer medium and the printing direction in one output unit. Is equipped with.

Here, the "image transfer medium" is not limited to the description of a document, but refers to a recording sheet or the like including only a figure or a blank sheet. Hereinafter, the "image transfer medium" is abbreviated as "document".

[0008] "One output" is a single discharge of one document,
Or, a group of two or more documents that are continuously discharged,
For data transferred from another facsimile or CPU, one reception corresponds to this.

[0009]

In the above structure, the direction of the document is changed in one output unit, so that the document can be easily distinguished in one output unit.

Here, the point of "changing the direction of the document" is performed by feeding paper from cassettes of different orientations or by changing the printing direction, and further, a combination thereof.

[0011]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall construction of a composite digital copying apparatus 2 which is an image forming apparatus showing an embodiment of the present invention.

The composite digital copying apparatus 2 also has the function of a facsimile printer.

The composite digital copying apparatus 2 has a photoconductor drum 10 which is rotatably arranged in the direction of an arrow through a drive motor (not shown) at approximately the center thereof. The photoconductor drum 10 is formed by forming a thin layer of a photoconductor such as amorphous silicon, that is, a photoconductive layer 10a on the outer circumference of a cylinder of aluminum or the like. The photoconductor drum 10 emits light in a state where a predetermined potential is applied to the photoconductive layer 10a. Is irradiated, it is possible to provide a charge distribution pattern, that is, an electrostatic latent image.

Around the photosensitive drum 10, a charging width control device 12, a charging device 14, a developing device 16 and a transfer device 1 are provided.
8, the cleaning device 20, the static eliminator 22 and the like are sequentially arranged along the direction in which the photosensitive drum 10 is rotated.

The charging width control device 12 is a device in which a plurality of LED elements that can be turned on arbitrarily are sequentially arranged along the axis of the photosensitive drum 10, and the photosensitive layer 10a is changed by changing the lighting position. It is used to define an area capable of holding a potential, that is, an image forming area. That is, it is formed on the photosensitive layer 10a and is used to define an area where the photosensitive layer 10a can hold a potential by changing the lighting position, that is, an image forming area. That is, the width of the image formed on the photosensitive layer 10a can be arbitrarily limited. By rotating the photosensitive drum 10 in this state, the length of the image formed on the photosensitive layer 10a can be arbitrarily limited.

For example, when the maximum copyable width of the photoconductor drum 10 is a width corresponding to A3 paper and copying to A4 paper is requested, the width of A3 paper and the width of A4 paper in the photosensitive layer 10a. A margin and A caused by the difference in width
It is possible to erase the potential of the area corresponding to the length of 3 sheets and exceeding the length of A4 sheet. Further, when the current size is A4 and A3 paper is selected as the copy paper, a simple edit mode, which will be described later, is set, so that a blank (blank) is applied to the paper portion that exceeds the size of the document. Can be provided. The area data in which the LED is turned on is stored in advance in the ROM described later so as to be compatible with various input conditions.

The charging device 14 outputs from a corona wire extending along the axis of the photosensitive drum 10, a grid screen and a corona wire for limiting the amount of electric charge supplied to the photosensitive layer 10a via the corona wire. It is used to charge the photosensitive layer 10a to a predetermined potential, which includes a shield case that prevents the electric charge from flowing in a direction other than the photosensitive layer 10a. The charging device 14 is continuously or intermittently energized by a charging control device (not shown) according to the input copying conditions (the number of copies).
It should be noted that the potential provided to the photosensitive layer 10a can be controlled along the direction in which the photosensitive drum 10 is rotated by being biased in conjunction with or independently of the charging width control device 12.

The developing device 16 includes a toner accommodating portion for accommodating a visualizing agent, that is, a toner, and a developing roller arranged substantially parallel to the axis of the photosensitive drum 10, and light (that is, image information) described later is incident on the photosensitive layer 10a. When exposed to light, the photosensitive layer 10
The electrostatic latent image is developed by supplying toner to the charge pattern formed on a, that is, the electrostatic latent image.

The transfer device 18 includes a corona wire that functions substantially in the same manner as the charging device 14 and a developing device 16 that includes a shield case that blocks charges output from the corona wire from traveling in a direction other than the photosensitive layer 10a. An image, that is, a toner image developed through the above is transferred onto a transfer target material, that is, a copy sheet, which will be described later. The transfer device 18 is integrally incorporated with a separation unit 18a that emits an AC electric field for separating the paper from the surface (photosensitive layer 10a) of the photosensitive drum 10.

The cleaning device 20 is formed so as to be in pressure contact with the photosensitive layer 10a and has a scraper for writing off the toner on the photosensitive layer 10a. When the toner image is transferred via the transfer device 18, the cleaning device 20 is exposed. It is used to remove the untransferred toner remaining on the photosensitive layer 10a from the photosensitive layer 10a.

The static eliminator 22 is a lamp extending along the axis of the photosensitive drum 10 and is used to remove the charge distribution pattern remaining on the photosensitive layer 10a.

Between the developing device 16 and the transfer device 18,
A plurality of slots 24 into which paper cassettes described later are inserted
a, 24b and 24c are formed. Slot 24
Sheet cassettes 26a, 26b and 26c for supplying copy sheets or OHP sheets to the photoconductor drum 10 are inserted into the a, 24b and 24c. Photoconductor drum 10 and paper cassette 26a (A3 size), 26
A pair of first, second and third paper feed rollers 28a, 28b and 28c for pulling out the papers one by one from the cassettes 26a, 26b and 26c are respectively provided between the b (A4 size) and the 26c (A4 size). Formed on the paper feed roller 28a,
The first, second, and third conveying rollers 30a, 30b, and 30c that convey the sheet fed via 28b and 28c toward the photosensitive drum 10 are formed of a pair of guide plates, respectively. The feed paths 32a, 32b and 32c for guiding the sheet toward the sheet 10, and the inclination of the sheet are corrected, and the leading edge of the image formed on the photosensitive drum 10 is aligned with the sheet to rotate the photosensitive drum 10. A pair of timing rollers 34 that feed the sheet at the same speed as the speed are arranged in order.

At the position where the photoconductor drum 10 is relatively distant, the copy paper on which the toner image is transferred via the transfer device 18 is conveyed in the direction in which the photoconductor drum 10 is rotated and is conveyed. Is provided with a fixing device 36 for fixing the toner (image) electrostatically attached to the sheet to the sheet.

The fixing device 36 has a heating roller having a heater and a pressure roller pressed against the heating roller, and heats the toner on the paper to melt the toner and press the toner and the paper. Then, fix the toner on the paper.

Between the transfer device 18 and the fixing device 36, there is also provided a conveyor belt 38 for sending out the sheet on which the toner image has been transferred (transferred) via the transfer device 18 toward the fixing device 36. In the direction in which the sheet on which the toner image has been fixed is further sent out through the fixing device 36, a sheet discharge roller 40 for discharging the sheet to the outside of the apparatus 2 and a sheet discharge tray 41.
But they are arranged respectively.

Above the photoconductor drum 10, a copy object, for example, a document placing section 50 on which a document such as a book or a document is placed, and an image existing on the document placed on the document placing section 50. A document reading section 60 for transmitting the information to the photosensitive layer 10a of the photoconductor drum 10, an operation panel for inputting various copying conditions, a copy start signal for starting a copying operation, and the like are arranged.

The original document placing section 50 is provided with an original document table 52 on which the original document D is placed, an original document guide plate 52a which is arranged at one end of the original document table 52 and indicates a position where the original document D should be placed, and the original document table. It has a cover 54 and the like which is formed to be openable and closable with respect to 52 and which makes the original document D placed on the original document table 52 closely adhere to the original document table 52. The document table 52 is formed of, for example, a plate glass or the like, irradiates the document surface of the document D with light from a certification lamp described later, and the light reflected by the document surface is used as image information toward the image reading unit 60. introduce.

The image reading section 60 includes an illumination lamp 62 for illuminating an original placed on the original table 52, a reflector 64 for focusing light from the illumination lamp 62 at a predetermined position on the original, and reflected light from the original (image information). ) To the image writing unit 60c, a plurality of reflecting mirrors 66a, 66b, 66c and 6
6d and the image processing writing unit 60c arranged between the reflecting mirrors 66c and 66d.

The image processing writing section 60c performs image processing and writing.

In the image processing, light from the original sent through the reflecting mirror 66c is converted into an electric signal by photoelectric conversion using a CCD, and converted into a digital signal by an A / D converter. Alternatively, the received digital signal can be scaled electrically in the horizontal (main scanning) direction, marker area processing or double copy processing, or according to the "character", "character photograph" or "photograph" mode specified on the operation unit. It is to perform the key processing. Further, in writing, the laser diode emits light corresponding to the image portion from the image-processed signal load. The laser light is mainly scanned by a polygon mirror that rotates at a high speed, and is irradiated onto the photosensitive drum 10 through the mirror.

The illumination lamp 62, the reflector 64, and the reflecting mirror 66a are integrally formed as a first carriage 60a, and are moved in parallel with the document table 52 at a speed corresponding to the copy magnification at which the document is to be copied. It Similarly, the reflecting mirrors 66b and 66c are integrally formed as a second carriage 60b and are driven by the first carriage 60a.

Here, the charging width control device 1 described above is used.
2, the charging device 14, the developing device 16, the transfer device 18, the photoconductor drum 10, the fixing device 36, the document placing portion 50, the image reading portion 60 and the like correspond to the image forming portion 71 that forms an image.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a composite digital copying apparatus 2 which is an image forming apparatus according to this embodiment.

As shown in the figure, the composite digital copying apparatus 2 according to the present embodiment has the above-mentioned image forming section 71 and a CP for performing various controls for the composite digital copying apparatus 2.
U72 and ROM73 in which the program is stored, the image read by the image reading unit 60, the interface 75
A RAM 74 capable of holding images or various data transmitted / received via the computer, and an interface 75 for controlling connection with a computer or a facsimile communication network, and supplies the aforementioned A3 size recording sheet. 26a, a paper feed unit 26b for supplying A4 size recording paper, and a paper feed unit 26c for supplying A4 size recording paper.

Two types of embodiments will be described below according to the functions of the CPU 72 and the ROM 73.

The case of facsimile reception will be described below. Here, the "one output" means one reception.

In the composite digital copying machine 2 according to this embodiment, each of the paper feed units 26a, 26b shown in FIG.
26c includes A3 size paper (vertical feed direction), A
Prepare 4 size sheets (vertical feed direction) and A4-R size sheets (horizontal feed direction).

In the present embodiment, the CPU 72, the ROM 73 and the RAM 74 in the block diagram shown in FIG.
One reception determination unit that determines one reception as one output, and the paper feed units 26a and 26 that have been selected in the previous one reception
b, 26c, or a holding unit that holds determination data representing the presence or absence of image rotation (180 ° or the like), and for one reception, the paper size is determined based on the received data, and the paper size If the paper is A3, the selection of the paper feed unit 26a is determined, and it is also determined whether or not the image is rotated based on the determination data held in the holding unit. In the case of A4, a function equivalent to a determination unit that determines the selection of the paper feeding unit or the presence / absence of image rotation based on the determination data stored in the storage unit is provided. ing.

3 to 5 show examples of sheet discharge states that can be distinguished by the determination made by the determination unit.

FIG. 3 shows a case where the paper size received in one reception is only the A4 size.

In the case of this A4 size, the distinguishable paper direction and image direction are (a) and (b) as shown in FIG.
There are four types, (c) and (d). Of these, (a) and (b) are in the forward direction with respect to the paper transport direction, and (c) and (d) are in the reverse direction. The rotation of the image can be performed by changing the order of the read data and the transferred data since the read data is once stored in the memory RAM 74.

Preferably, the paper direction in A4 size,
The order of switching the image direction is (a) → (b) → (c) →
The deciding unit may decide to repeat (d).

As shown in the figure, the decision data for the last reception is not held in the holding section, and the paper output tray 41
If the last minute is not on the top, the first flight of the received document is
In order to print (discharge) paper in the direction (a) of the figure, a paper feed unit 26c in which paper in the A4 vertical direction (A4-R) is set
The paper is taken out from (x), printed, and ejected.

The second flight received next is judged to be in the direction (b) in order to distinguish it from the previous time (a), and A
Paper feed unit 26b in which 4 horizontal (A4) size sheets are set
After the selection of (y) is decided, the paper is taken out from the paper feed cassette 26b and printed as shown in FIG.

Similarly, for flights 3 and 4, flights (c) and (d) are selected so that they are selected, and the paper feed section 26c and the paper feed section 26 are in the directions in which printing is intended.
The paper is taken out from d and printed respectively. Further, when the reception continues, the four directions of (a) to (d) of FIG.

Therefore, in this case, as the determination data, the numbers 1 to 4 for identifying these four ways are made to correspond,
A counter is used to count each reception (returning to 1 after 4). Then, the count value is held until the power of the machine is turned off, and the state in which the print is performed before that is determined, and when the next reception comes, the direction is judged.

Although the above example is limited to the reception of A4 size prints, the reception of A3 size prints is also conceivable. FIG. 5 shows another example of the discharged state in that case.

When the maximum copy size of the machine is A3, the A3 size can be distinguished only by rotating the image because the paper is fed in only one direction. Therefore, when the maximum copy size of the machine is A3, the A3 size can be distinguished only by rotating the image because the paper is fed in only one direction. Therefore, there are two types of A3 size, that is, (e) and (f) of FIG.
Only (e) and (f) are repeated. Here, the direction (e) is the forward direction with respect to the paper conveyance direction, and the direction (f) is the reverse direction.

Even when the reception of the A3 size print is mixed during the reception of the A4 size print, it is possible to distinguish them in the above-described manner.

As shown in FIG. 5, since the A4 size and the A3 size can be distinguished by the difference in the paper size, when the paper size is switched, for example, the memory of the previous paper size is cleared. (to erase.

Further, in the above description, the paper size is limited to the A series, but according to the above-mentioned method, other series (for example, B series, LT series, etc.) are also possible.

Next, the processing operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
Follow the instructions below.

In step S1, the composite digital copying apparatus 2 receives image data from another facsimile. At that time, the image data for one reception which is determined to be one reception by the one reception determination unit is temporarily stored in the RAM 74 shown in FIG.

In step S2, when the determining unit determines the paper size, and determines that the size is A4 size,
In step S3, the determination unit determines the previous paper size determination based on the determination data.

When it is determined that the paper size received in the last reception is the A4 size, the process proceeds to step S4, and the number of cassette stages is determined by this determination unit.

When it is determined that the number of stages of this cassette is two, the determining unit proceeds to step S5 and determines the previous paper orientation.

If the previous paper direction was the horizontal direction, the process proceeds to step S6 to determine the vertical feed (A4-R size) of the paper feed unit 26c as shown in FIG. 3, and in step S7, the paper feed unit is selected. 26c is selected. If the previous paper direction is the vertical direction, the process proceeds to step S8 to determine the horizontal feed (A4 size) of the paper feed unit 26b as shown in FIG. 3, and the process proceeds to step S9 to feed the A4 cassette. The section 26 is selected, and the process proceeds to step S10.

On the other hand, when the determining unit determines that the paper size of the received data received in step S2 is A3 size, the process proceeds to step S11, and this determining unit determines the A3 size of the paper feed unit 26a. The selection is determined, and in step S12, the determination unit determines the previous paper size based on the determination data. If the previous paper size is A3 size, the process proceeds to step S10, and the previous paper size is A4 size.
In the case of the size, the process proceeds to step S15.

As described above, when the previous paper size is A4, the process proceeds to step S10, where the determination unit determines the direction of the previous image based on the determination data.

If the previous image is in the reverse direction (with respect to the conveyance direction in FIG. 4), or if the A4 size sheet is selected in step S12, the process proceeds to step S15, and the forward direction of the image is selected. In step S16, the image data is sequentially fed, in step S17, the paper is fed from the corresponding paper feed unit, and is ejected in step S18.

On the other hand, when it is determined in step S10 that the previous image direction is the forward direction, the process proceeds to step S13, the reverse image direction is selected, and the reverse feed of the image data is performed in step S14. The sheet is fed from the corresponding sheet feeding section in S17, and discharged in step S18.

In the above description, the facsimile reception of the composite digital copying apparatus has been described.
The present invention is not limited to this case, and the data transferred from the CPU may be received.

In addition, the direction of the document may be changed for each output when the document is discharged from the same discharge unit for each output when performing copying.

[0064]

As described above, according to the present invention, in the image forming apparatus, when the image transfer medium (document) is ejected from the same ejecting means (paper ejecting section), the orientation of the document is output for each output. Is changing.

Therefore, it is convenient that the facsimile received document, the printed matter, and the like can be easily sorted and sorted without being mixed with each other.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall device configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram according to an embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of distinguishable sheet discharge states according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing another example of a distinguishable discharge state according to the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a state of a distinguishable document according to the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a processing flowchart according to the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

2 ... Compound digital copying machine, 10 ... Photoconductor, 26 (26
a, 26b, 26c) ... Paper feeding unit, 41 ... Paper discharging unit, 71 ...
Image forming unit, 72 ... CPU, 73 ... ROM, 74 ... RA
M

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A discharge unit for discharging an image transfer medium on which an image has been formed, a discharge medium mounting unit for mounting an image transfer medium discharged by the discharge unit, and an image transfer for discharging the discharge medium mounting unit. An image forming apparatus comprising: an output direction changing unit that changes the direction of a medium in units of one output. 2. A first supply transfer medium placing means for placing an image transfer medium before image formation, and an image transfer medium before image formation having the same size as the image transfer medium but different in orientation from the image transfer medium. Transfer of supplying the image transfer medium alternately in units of one output from the second supply transfer medium mounting means, which is mounted by the first supply transfer medium mounting means, and the second supply transfer medium mounting means Medium supply means, means for forming an image corresponding to the orientation of the image transfer medium supplied from the supply means, and discharge means for ejecting the image transfer medium on which the image has been formed corresponding to the supplied orientation An image forming apparatus comprising: 3. A supply transfer medium placing means for placing an image transfer medium before image formation, a transfer medium supplying means for supplying the image transfer medium from the supply transfer medium placing means, and a supply means for supplying the image transfer medium. Means for forming an image on the image transfer medium, discharge means for discharging the image transfer medium having the image formed thereon, discharge medium mounting means for mounting the image transfer medium discharged by the discharge means, and this discharge medium mounting means An image forming apparatus comprising: a print direction changing unit that changes a print direction of an image transfer medium discharged to the unit in units of one output. 4. A first supply transfer medium placing means for placing an image transfer medium before image formation, and an image transfer medium before image formation having the same size as the image transfer medium but different in orientation from the image transfer medium. The image transfer medium is supplied in units of one output from either the second supply transfer medium mounting unit, the first supply transfer medium mounting unit, or the second supply transfer medium mounting unit that is mounted by And a means for forming an image corresponding to the orientation of the image transfer medium supplied from the supplying means, and an ejection for ejecting the image transfer medium on which the image has been formed corresponding to the orientation. Means, discharge medium mounting means for mounting the image transfer medium discharged by the discharging means, print direction changing means for changing the print direction of the image transfer medium in units of one output, and the transfer medium supplied by the transfer medium supply means Selection operation of mounting means Image forming apparatus and a means for actuating one output unit at least one of the printing direction selecting operation of the print direction changing means.