JPH09102863A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow the device to provide a mode offering convenience of use for the user even in the mixed size original mode without causing deterioration in productivity and to allow the device set to the mixed size original mode to provide the double side copy mode having not been fulfilled by the mixed size original mode in a conventional device. SOLUTION: This image forming device 1 is made up of an automatic original feeding section 2 transferring and recording a visual image formed on an image medium 41 onto transfer paper, detecting automatically the size of an original whose size differs from sizes of other originals and feeding the original one by one, an image information read section 20 reading the original image of an original exposure face, an image storage section 27 storing image information of plural pages of originals, and a control means 30 revising succeeding image forming processing depending on the size of original.

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 transfer paper.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As an image forming apparatus for transferring a visible image formed on an image carrier to a transfer paper for recording, there is a copying machine or a printer having an image memory capable of storing a plurality of image information. .

In such an image forming apparatus, for example, originals of different sizes are automatically detected and fed one by one on the exposed surface of the original, the image of the original is read, and the image information of a plurality of pages is imaged. There is one in which an image of an original is stored in a memory and an image of an original is recorded on a transfer paper of a size designated by a user.

[0004]

The mixed original mode is provided, and A4 / A3 mixed, B5 / B4 mixed, 8.5 × 11 inch and 11 × 17 inch mixed, and the like.
It is actually used quite often. However, in the mixed document mode, the document size cannot be known until after the document feeding unit finishes feeding the document. Therefore, it is necessary to start feeding from the paper feed tray corresponding to the document size determined after the document setting is completed. It was inevitable that productivity would drop significantly.

Further, in the double-sided mode in which the transfer papers which have been copied on one side are once stacked in the reversing path and then conveyed again to the image forming area, different transfer sizes cannot be stacked, so that it is not possible to cope with the productivity significantly. I could only take the method of lowering.

In the non-stack double-sided mode, mixed originals can be handled, but the inconvenience of not being able to select the paper feed tray cannot be eliminated unless the original size is known, so a decrease in productivity cannot be avoided.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object thereof is to provide a user-friendly mode for a user without causing a decrease in productivity even in the mixed original mode, and further, the conventional mixed original mode. (EN) An image forming apparatus capable of coping with a double-sided copying mode which cannot be supported by the mode. Further, the present invention similarly has a combination function of a mixed original and page continuous shooting, which cannot be conventionally supported,
A combination of a mixed original and a composite copy can be controlled by using an image memory that can store image information of a plurality of pages, and an image forming apparatus that enables a new mode for a user is provided. It is an object.

[0008]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and to achieve the object, the invention according to claim 1 transfers a visible image formed on an image carrier to a transfer paper and records it. In the image forming apparatus for performing the above, an automatic document feeding unit that automatically detects different-sized documents and feeds them one by one onto the document exposed surface, an image information reading unit that reads a document image on the document exposed surface, It is characterized by having an image storage section capable of storing the image information of the original of the page and a control means capable of changing the subsequent image forming processing according to the original size. In this way, originals of different sizes are automatically detected and fed one by one onto the exposed original surface, the original image on the exposed original surface is read, and the image information of the originals of a plurality of pages is stored to the original size. Therefore, in order to form the image information of the original on the entire surface of the transfer paper in the conventional mixed original mode by changing the subsequent image forming processing, a significant decrease in productivity cannot be avoided. The image information is not lost, the productivity is not reduced, and it is possible to eliminate the waste of forming one small-sized original on one large-sized transfer paper.

According to a second aspect of the invention, in the control means,
The small-sized original is characterized in that a plurality of surfaces can be combined and output on one transfer paper, and the large-sized original can output one surface on one transfer paper. In this way, since a small-sized original is formed on a large-sized transfer paper with multiple sides, it is possible to select the large-sized paper as the transfer paper from the beginning, and the small-sized original is combined with the image information and output. The large-sized original is output as it is.

According to a third aspect of the invention, in the control means,
One feature of the small size original document is that one surface can be output to one transfer sheet surface, and the large size original document can be separately output to one surface of a plurality of transfer paper sheets. In this way, since the large-sized original is divided and output, similarly, it is possible to select the small-sized transfer paper from the beginning, and the small-sized original is also output as image information, and the large-sized original is divided. Is output.

The invention according to claim 4 is characterized in that the control according to claim 2 or claim 3 can be selected. In this way, a user-friendly mode can be set by the user's selection.

[0012]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of an image forming apparatus of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the image forming apparatus. In this embodiment, the image forming apparatus 1
Indicates a copier. In this image forming apparatus 1,
An automatic document feeder 2 is provided. Automatic document feeder 2
The document tray 3 includes a document tray 3, a feeding roller 4, an ejection table 5, and a document size detection sensor 6 that detects the document size. The document size detection sensor 6 is composed of a group of reflection type sensors arranged at equal intervals in a direction orthogonal to the document transport direction. The originals set on the original tray 3 are automatically fed one by one to the original placing glass 10 by driving the feeding roller 4, and the originals whose images have been read are sent out to the take-out table 5. Then, the originals of different sizes are automatically detected, and the originals are fed one by one onto the exposed surface.

Further, the image forming apparatus 1 is provided with an image information reading section 20 for reading the image information of the fed original. The image information reading unit 20 includes a light source 21 and a mirror 2.
2 to 24, a lens 25 and a CCD 26, the light source 21 and the mirrors 22 to 24 are reciprocally arranged below the document placing glass 10 so that the light source 21 illuminates the document on the document placing glass 10. To do. The reflected light is the mirror 22
~ 24, a CCD 26 through an optical system consisting of a lens 25
Read optically by. Position detection sensors S1 and S2 for reciprocating the light source 21 are arranged below both ends of the document placing glass 10.
When 1 and S2 detect the light source 21, the light source 21 is moved in the opposite direction. The CCD 26 is controlled by the control means 30 and stores the read image signal in the image storage unit 27.

The image forming apparatus 1 is provided with an image carrying section 40, a fixing section 50, a sheet feeding section 60, a registration control section 70, an automatic reversal re-conveying unit (ADU) 80, and a discharge sorting apparatus 90. Further, a transport path A for transporting the transfer paper to the image carrier 40, a discharge path B for discharging the transfer paper on which the image is formed, and an automatic reversal of the transfer paper on which the image is formed by the image carrier 40. A reversing sheet feeding path C for circulating the re-conveying unit (ADU) 80 and a re-conveying path D from the automatic re-conveying unit (ADU) 80. A detection means for detecting the paper is provided.

A photoconductor drum 41 as an image carrier is arranged in the image carrier 40, and the photoconductor drum 41 is uniformly charged by a charging electrode 42, and an image information writing unit 43 supplies image information. Is irradiated on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 41 to form an electrostatic latent image. Image information writing unit 43
Is configured to write the image information stored in the image storage unit 27 by the laser on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 41.

The electrostatic latent image is developed by the developing section 44 to form a toner image. The transfer paper is sent to the transfer unit 45 in synchronization with the rotation of the photoconductor drum 41 to transfer the toner image. After that, the transfer paper is separated from the photoconductor drum 41 and conveyed to the fixing unit 50 in the next step. A cleaning unit 46 is provided around the photoconductor drum 41 to clean the surface of the photoconductor drum 41 after the transfer, and the surface is charged again by the charging electrode 42 for the next image formation.

The fixing unit 50 has a pair of rollers 51 and 52, and fixes the toner image on the transfer paper which is heated and pressed. Switching gate 10 arranged at the latter stage of the fixing unit 50
By 0, the transfer path of the transfer paper is switched between the discharge side and the re-transfer side. The switching of the switching gate 100 is performed by detecting the transfer sheet by the sensor S10.

The sheet feeding section 60 includes a plurality of sheet feeding step sections 61, 6
2 are provided, and in this embodiment, they are arranged in the upper stage and the lower stage. The upper paper feed stage 61 and the lower paper feed stage 62 include
Trays 63 and 64 for accommodating transfer sheets are arranged. Paper feed rollers 65 and 66 are arranged on the upper surfaces of the transfer papers of the upper paper feed tray 61 and the lower paper feed tray 62, respectively, and intermittently feed the transfer paper. Paper feed rollers 65, 6
A pair of double feed prevention rollers 67 and 68 are arranged in the front stage of 6,
The transfer sheets are conveyed one by one to the conveyance path A. Transport route A
A pair of conveying rollers 101, which constitutes a conveying means, is arranged in the. The conveying roller pair 101 is driven by a paper feeding motor 301 which constitutes a driving means.

The automatic reversing and re-transporting unit (ADU) 80 includes
Carry-in roller pair 81, reverse roller pair 82, transport roller pair 2
02, 203, 204, 205 and sensors S3, S4, S5, S6, S7 constituting the detecting means are provided. The carry-in roller pair 81, the reversing roller pair 82, and the transport roller pairs 202, 203, 204, 205 are driven by an ADU motor 300 which constitutes a driving means.

The transfer paper sent from the circulation reverse paper feed path C is carried in by the forward rotation of the carry-in roller pair 81 and the reverse roller pair 82, and the reverse roller pair 82 reverses and the transport roller pair 20.
It is sent to the re-conveyance path D by driving 2, 203, 204 and 205. The reversing paper feed path C has a pair of conveying rollers 200,
201 is arranged, and the transfer sheet is conveyed toward the automatic reverse re-conveyance unit (ADU) 80 by driving the pair of conveyance rollers 200, 201.

Between the re-carrying path D and the image carrier 40,
A skew amount detector E is arranged. The skew amount detection unit E has a detection unit 120 arranged in a direction orthogonal to the transfer sheet conveyance direction, and optically detects the skew amount of the transfer sheet. That is, the detection unit 120 is composed of, for example, a transmission type sensor, and a plurality of detection units 120 are arranged at a predetermined interval in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the transfer sheet P. The transmission type sensor optically detects the skew amount of the transfer sheet. Then, this skew amount is sent to the control means 30. The control unit 30 determines that the skew is abnormal if the skew amount is equal to or more than a predetermined value, and controls the registration control unit 70 or the discharge sorting apparatus 90 to change the subsequent image forming conditions.

The registration control section 70 is provided with a front side registration roller pair 71, a rear side registration roller pair 72, and no-feed sensors S8 and S9 as detection means. Front registration roller pair 71 and rear registration roller pair 72
Are independently driven by motors 73 and 74, respectively.
The transferred transfer paper abuts against the front side resist roller pair 71, aligns the image on the image carrier with the transfer paper, and forcibly forms a spool to correct skew of the transfer paper. To solve the problem.

Normally, the transfer sheet conveyance speed of the sheet feeding section 60 or the reconveyance path D is faster than the conveyance speed of the front registration roller pair 71 and the rear registration roller pair 72 and thereafter. That is, in the normal registration control unit 70, the no-feed sensors S8 and S9 are provided immediately before the rollers, the transfer paper is abutted against the front registration roller pair 71 to correct the skew, and the timing with the photosensitive drum 41 is synchronized. Then, the front registration roller pair 71 is turned on again, the rear registration roller pair 72 is turned off, the drive source on the paper feeding side is stopped, and the transfer paper is conveyed to the photosensitive drum position. At this time, if the skew amount is larger than the predetermined value, the rear side registration roller pair 72 also becomes O.
Even after N, the paper feed drive source is intermittently turned on to perform recovery control so that a constant amount of loop is always formed, thereby preventing the wrinkle of the transfer paper.

The recovery control of the discharge sorting device 90 is carried out as follows. The ejection sorting apparatus 90 usually has non-sort / sort / group / staple sort modes MD1 to MD4. Among these, in the staple sort mode MD4, the discharged transfer sheets are once aligned and the four corners of the transfer sheet are aligned, and then one place is stapled. However, if the skew cannot be sufficiently corrected by the registration control unit 70, the skew is discharged onto the discharging device while being bent, and the four corners are not aligned even after the sheets are aligned, resulting in a staple error. After stapling, the staple bundle is discharged from the stapling position, but if there is a mistake at this time, there are many cases where a larger misalignment or jam occurs, so if the skew amount is detected as a predetermined amount or more, The staple sort mode MD4 is automatically released, and the sort mode MD2 for only sorting is automatically shifted.

The image forming apparatus 1 as described above has an automatic document feeder 2 for automatically detecting sizes of originals and feeding the originals one by one to the original exposure surface, and an image for reading the original image on the original exposure surface. It has an information reading unit 20, an image storage unit 27 capable of storing image information of originals of a plurality of pages, and a control unit 30 capable of changing the subsequent image forming processing according to the original size.

The control means 30 executes a mixed original plus composite copy mode M1. In the mixed original plus composite copy mode M1, as shown in FIG. P1 can be combined and output, and as shown in FIG. 2B, a large-sized document is configured so that one side a2 is output to one transfer sheet P1. In this way, since the small-sized original is formed on the large-sized transfer paper with the plurality of surfaces a1 being selected, the large-sized paper can be selected as the transfer paper from the beginning, and the small-sized original is also combined with the image information. The large document is output as it is.

Further, the control means 30 executes the mixed original plus page continuous shooting mode M2. In the mixed original plus page continuous shooting mode M2, as shown in FIG. It is possible to output on one surface P2 of the transfer paper, and as shown in FIG. 3B, a large-sized document is configured so that one surface b1 can be divided and output b11 and b12 to a plurality of surfaces P2 of the transfer paper. In this way, since the large-sized original is divided and output, similarly, it is possible to select the small-sized transfer paper from the beginning, and the small-sized original is also output as image information, and the large-sized original is divided. Is output.

This mixed original plus composite copy mode M1
The control of the mixed original plus page continuous shooting mode M2 can be selected by the mode selection button O1, and the user can set the convenient mode by pressing the mode selection button O1.

In this way, the originals of different sizes are automatically detected and fed one by one onto the exposed original surface, the original image on the exposed original surface is read, and the image information of the originals of a plurality of pages is stored. By changing the subsequent image forming processing according to the document size, in order to form the image information of the document entirely on the transfer paper in the conventional mixed document mode, a significant decrease in productivity was inevitable. In addition, the image information of the original document is not lost, the productivity is not reduced, and the waste of forming one small-sized original document on one large-sized transfer sheet can be eliminated.

This control is shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. FIG. 4 is a flowchart in the mixed original plus composite copy mode M1.

In step S1, it is determined whether or not mixed originals have been selected. If mixed originals have been selected, it is determined in step S2 whether composite copy is selected. Selection of synthetic copy is being performed, and step S3
Then, it is determined that the copy button O2 is ON. When the copy button O2 is pressed ON, the document is fed in step S4. In step S5, the originals of different sizes are automatically detected and fed one by one onto the exposed surface of the original,
The scanning is performed to read the document image on the exposed surface of the document, the image information of the document of a plurality of pages is stored in the image storage unit 27, and the process is repeated until the scanning of all documents is completed in step S6.

In step S7, a large size of P1, P2 or inches is fed, in step S8 image information is read from the image storage unit 27, and in step S9, a small size original is determined. If the original is not a small-sized original in step S10, an image for one surface is formed as shown in FIG. 2B, and the set number of copies is output in step S11. In step S9, in the case of a small size original document, images for a plurality of surfaces are formed in step S12 as shown in FIG. 2B, and the set number of copies is output in step S11.

FIG. 5 shows a mixed original plus page continuous shooting mode M.
It is a flowchart in 2.

In step S21, it is determined whether or not the mixed document is selected. If the mixed document is selected, in step S22, the selection of page continuous shooting is determined. Page continuous shooting is selected, and step S
At 23, it is determined whether the copy button O2 is ON. When the copy button O2 is pressed ON, the document is fed in step S24. In step S25, it is determined whether or not the original is a large-sized original. If the original is not a large-sized original, scanning is performed in step S26 to read the original image on the exposed surface of the original, and the image information of the originals of a plurality of pages is stored in the image storage unit. Two
7 and is performed until the scanning of all originals is completed in step S27. Further, in step S25, in the case of a large-sized document, in step S28 the document image on the document exposed surface is read by scanning each half-face, and the image information of the document is stored in the image storage unit 27 as two pages, and in step S2
In step 7, all document scanning is completed.

In step S28, P1, P2, or a small size of inch is fed, and in step S29, the image storage unit 2 is fed.
The image information is read out from FIG.
As shown in (a) and (b), an image for one small size is formed, and the set number of copies is output in step S31.

In this embodiment, the double-sided copy mode will not be described in detail, but similar control is possible. In particular, even when a double-sided copy image is obtained from a single-sided original, since the image storage unit 27 is provided, it is easy to insert a blank sheet of paper even if the composite is an odd-numbered original, and a double-sided copy mode that does not make the user feel uncomfortable is possible. Becomes

[0037]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the invention, the originals of different sizes are automatically detected and fed one by one to the original exposure surface to read the original image on the original exposure surface. Since the image information of a plurality of pages of originals is stored and the subsequent image forming process is changed according to the original size, in order to form the entire image information of the originals on the transfer paper in the conventional mixed originals mode, a large amount of A decrease in productivity was unavoidable, but the image information of the original document was not impaired, the productivity was not deteriorated, and one small size original document was formed on one large size transfer sheet. It is possible to eliminate waste.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, a small-sized original can be combined and output on one surface of the transfer paper, and a large-sized original can be output on one surface of the transfer paper. Multiple originals are formed on a large size transfer paper,
It is possible to select a large-sized paper as the transfer paper from the beginning, and the small-sized original is also synthesized and output as the image information, and the large-sized original is output as it is.

According to the third aspect of the invention, the small-sized original is 1
One side of the transfer paper can be output, and one large-sized document can be divided and output on one side of the transfer paper. Therefore, the large-sized document is divided and output. From the beginning, it is possible to select a small size,
The image information is also output as it is for the small-sized original, and is divided for output for the large-sized original.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the user-friendly mode can be set by the user's selection.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing recording on a transfer sheet in a mixed original plus composite copy mode M1.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing recording on a transfer sheet in a mixed original plus page continuous shooting mode M2.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart in a mixed original plus composite copy mode M1.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart in a mixed original plus page continuous shooting mode M2.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 2 Automatic document feeding section 20 Image information reading section 30 Control means 40 Image carrier section 41 Image carrier 50 Fixing section 60 Paper feeding section

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus for transferring a visible image formed on an image bearing member onto a transfer paper for recording and automatically detecting sizes of originals having different sizes, and feeding the exposed surfaces of the originals one by one. An automatic document feeding unit for feeding, an image information reading unit for reading a document image on the exposed surface of the document, an image storage unit capable of storing image information of a document of a plurality of pages, and subsequent image forming processing according to the document size. An image forming apparatus, comprising: 2. The control means is configured such that a plurality of small-sized originals can be combined and output on one transfer sheet, and a large-sized original can output one side to one transfer paper. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. 3. The control means is configured such that one side of a small-sized original can be output on one side of a transfer sheet, and one side of a large-sized original can be separately output on a plurality of transfer sheets. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control according to claim 2 or claim 3 is selectable.