JPH09190028A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable setting a cassette stage for picking up a paper by function, by discriminating from which cassette stage the paper is picked up, and displaying the cassette stage. SOLUTION: The cassette stage for picking up the paper is stored by a RAM 304 at printing under the setting by an operation part 3. A signal is received by a function detecting part 303 once in the case of requiring an output by function such as a copying function and a facsimile function, etc., thereafter, the signal is transmitted to a CPU 305. And in the case the output requiring signal is received by the function detecting part 303, a cassette stage for picking up the paper is discriminated based on data stored by the RAM 304, then, the discrimination result is transferred to a printer control part 308 in a printer part 2. Besides, data presenting from which cassette stages the paper is picked up is transferred to a display control part 306, then, the effect is displayed on a display part 307.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to setting of cassette stages in a compound copying machine having a plurality of recording devices (image forming devices) such as copying machines, facsimiles, printers and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A cassette setting means in a conventional composite copying machine equipped with a plurality of recording devices is automatically provided with a cassette stage in which optimum sheets to be recorded by the main body of the composite copying machine are stocked. An automatic cassette changing means for selecting is provided.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional example, when there are a plurality of cassette trays of the same size, the user can set which cassette tray the output paper is brought from. Therefore, if the user has a certain function and sets the colored paper or the like on the cassette stage so that the output is performed with the certain colored paper, a problem occurs.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems of the conventional example, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus of this type which enables setting of a cassette stage for picking up a sheet for each function. There is.

[0005]

Therefore, in the present invention, the setting means capable of setting the cassette stage or the cassette size for picking up a sheet at the time of output for each function, and the data set by the setting means are stored. Paper is picked up from which cassette stage from the storage means to be set, the function-specific output request signal generation means indicating which function the output request is from, and the signal generated by the storage means and the function-specific output request signal generation means. It is an object of the present invention to provide the above-mentioned object by providing an image forming apparatus characterized by having a discriminating means for discriminating whether or not a sheet is picked up and a display means for displaying a cassette stage.

[0006]

With the configuration of the present invention as described above, the above-mentioned problems caused by the automatic cassette change are eliminated, and it is possible to easily discriminate which function the output is from even with the same discharge tray.

[0007]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail based on an embodiment.

[0008]

1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of a composite image forming system according to the present invention.

In FIG. 1, 1 is an image input device for converting a document into image data (hereinafter referred to as "reader section"), 2 is a plurality of recording paper cassettes, and image data is converted by a print command. An image output device (hereinafter referred to as "printer") for outputting a visible image on a recording sheet, 3
Is an operation unit for displaying and setting various information of the composite image forming system, and 4 is an external device electrically connected to the reader unit 1 and has the following various functions.

That is, the external device 4 functioning as the second image input means receives information from a fax (FAX) unit 5 for transmitting and receiving a fax, a computer interface unit 6 for interfacing with a computer, and a computer. The information from the formatter unit 7 and the reader unit 1 for forming a visible image or the information sent from the computer is temporarily stored, and the attribute of the partial area in the image is added to the temporarily stored image information. An image memory unit 9 for performing a process for classifying (hereinafter referred to as “block selection process”), a file unit 10 for converting various document information into electric signals and storing the electric signals, and a file unit 10. It is provided with a connected external storage device 11 and a control unit 8 for controlling the above-mentioned functions.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing the structure of the reader unit 1 and the printer unit 2. The structure and operation of the reader unit 1 will be described. The originals stacked on the original feeding device 101 are sequentially conveyed one by one onto the original table glass surface 102. When the document is conveyed, the lamp 103 of the scanner unit is turned on, and the scanner unit 104 moves to irradiate the document. The reflected light of the document is reflected by the mirrors 105, 10
Pass through lens 108 through 6 and 107, then C
It is input to the CD image sensor unit 109 (hereinafter abbreviated as “CCD”).

Next, the configuration and operation of the printer unit 2 will be described with reference to FIG. The signal input to the printer unit 2 is converted into an optical signal by the exposure control unit 201, and the photoconductor (drum) 202 is illuminated according to the image signal. The latent image formed on the photoconductor 202 by the irradiation light is
It is developed by the developing device 203. Transferred paper (paper) stacking section 204 or 2 in synchronization with the above development
The transfer paper is conveyed from 05, and the developed image is transferred at the transfer unit 206. The transferred image is the fixing unit 2
After being fixed on the transfer paper at 07, the paper is discharged from the paper discharge unit 208 to the outside of the apparatus. The transfer paper output from the paper output unit 208 is supplied to each bin when the sort function is working in the sorter 220, or when the sort function is not working,
It is discharged to the top bin of the sorter.

Next, a method for outputting sequentially read images on both sides of one output sheet will be described. Fixing unit 20
The output paper sheet fixed at No. 7 is once conveyed to the paper discharge unit 208, then the conveyance direction of the paper sheet is reversed, and the paper is conveyed to the re-transferred transfer paper stacking unit 210 via the conveyance direction switching member 209. When the next original is prepared, the original image is read in the same manner as the above process, but since the transfer paper is fed from the re-transferred transfer paper stacking section 210, the surface of the same output paper is ended up. , Two document images can be output on the back side.

FIG. 3 is an example of a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of the control unit 8 in FIG. 1 of the image forming apparatus of this embodiment and the operation unit 3 capable of setting a cassette stage for picking up a sheet by function. . In the figure, reference numeral 301 denotes a touch panel, which is overlaid on the display unit 307 and sends the touched coordinates to the interface unit 302 when the user touches. In the interface unit 302,
The transferred coordinates are sent to the CPU 305. CPU 30
In 5, it is determined which key is pressed from the transferred coordinates. A ROM 309 stores a program for the CPU 305 to perform work.

Reference numeral 304 denotes a RAM for storing a cassette stage for picking up a sheet at the time of printing set by the operation unit 3. That is, it is a RAM for storing a cassette stage for picking up a sheet for each function such as copy, fax, and printer. 303
Is a function detection unit that receives a signal once when an output request for each function such as copying and faxing is made, and then sends the signal to the CPU 305. When the function detection unit 303 receives the output request signal, the cassette unit for picking up the paper is discriminated from the data stored in the RAM 304, and the printer unit 2
The determination result is sent to the printer control unit 308 in.

The control unit 8 has a reader unit 1 for converting a document into image data, a plurality of types of recording paper cassettes, and is connected to a printer unit 2 for outputting image data as a visible image on recording paper in response to a print command. ing. Further, the printer control unit 308 transfers data indicating which cassette sheet is picked up to the display control unit 306, and the display unit 307 displays the data.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing details of the operation panel according to this embodiment. In FIG. 4, 400 is a copy start key for instructing the start of copying, 401 is a reset key for returning to the standard mode, 402 is a guide key to be pressed when the guide function is used, 403 is a set number of sheets, etc. A numeric keypad for inputting a numerical value, 404 is a clear key for clearing a numeral, and 405 is a stop key for stopping during continuous copying.

Reference numeral 406 is a liquid crystal display unit and a touch panel for displaying the setting of each mode and the printer status by finger pressing. 407 is an interrupt key that can be interrupted to make a copy when urgently wanting to make a copy during continuous copying or when using as a fax or printer.
A secret code key for managing the number of copies for each individual or department, 409 is a soft switch for turning on / off the power of the main body, and 410 is a function key used when changing the function to be used.

FIG. 5 is an example of an operation sequence flowchart for setting a cassette stage on the operation unit according to this embodiment. First, when a face is selected for cassette stage setting on the touch panel 301 (step S501), information about each cassette stage is displayed (step S5).
02). An example is a cassette stage setting screen as shown in FIG. Information such that sheets of A4R size are stacked on the third cassette row from the top is a FAX output cassette and the type of paper is red is displayed on the screen.

When a cassette stage is newly set on this screen (step S503), the data in the RAM 304 (FIG. 3) is rewritten (step S504) and the new cassette information is displayed (step S502). If new setting is not performed, it is confirmed whether or not the cassette stage setting screen is finished (step S505), and if it is finished, the flow is finished. If it is not finished, the setting of the next cassette stage is waited for (step S503).

FIG. 6 shows the CP from the output request signal and the setting information.
7 is an example of an operation sequence flowchart when U determines a cassette stage. In this flow, as an example, only the output request signals of the copy, fax, and printer are limited to being input as signals to the function detection unit 303 (FIG. 3). Of course, the computer interface unit 6, the formatter unit 7, the image memory unit 9, the file unit 10 and the like in FIG. 1 are also input to the function detecting unit 303 as signals.

When the CPU 305 receives an output request signal from a certain function through the function detecting section 303, it is first determined whether the signal is a signal from a copy function, a fax function, or a printer function (steps S601 to S60).
3). If there is no output request, wait until there is an output request. When there is an output request, the cassette stage information stored in the RAM 304 is read (step S604).
Then, the cassette stage as set in the RAM 304 is determined as the output cassette stage (step S60).
5).

If there is a sheet in the determined cassette stage (step S606), the sheet is picked up from the determined cassette stage and output (step S607). If the determined cassette is out of paper, check whether the automatic cassette change is set (step S
608). Here, the automatic cassette change is a means for automatically picking up the paper of the optimum size at that point in time when there is no paper, from the other cassette tray. When auto cassette change is set, the paper is picked up from the cassette tray in which the paper size is stocked and output. When the automatic cassette change is not set, the paper-less display is performed (step S609).

When paper is replenished in the cassette stage (step S610), the cassette stage information is read again (step S604). If the cassette tray is not replenished with paper, it is confirmed whether another cassette tray with paper remaining is set (step S611). When the sheet is set in another cassette stage where the sheet remains, the sheet is picked up from the cassette stage and output (step S607).
If it is not set in another cassette stage where the paper remains, the no-paper display is continued (step S609).

FIG. 7 shows an example of the cassette stage setting screen. This screen is a screen for displaying the cassette size setting and its setting information. In this screen, the first cassette stage has a cassette size of A4 and is set for copy output. The cassette size of the second cassette is B
Function-based output is not set in 5R. The third cassette has a cassette size of A4R and is set for fax output, and red paper is stacked. The fourth cassette stage has a cassette size of B5 and is set for printer output, and yellow sheets are stacked. The fifth cassette stage has a cassette size of B4 and red sheets are stacked. 6
The cassette size of the second cassette is A3 and is set for copy output.

Information can be obtained from the cassette size setting screen shown in FIG.

[0027]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Since it is possible to set a cassette tray that picks up paper for each function, by storing colored paper etc. in each cassette tray, the problem due to automatic cassette change can be solved, and even with the same discharge tray It is possible to easily determine which function the output is from.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration block diagram of a composite image forming system according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the configuration of a reader unit and a printer unit.

FIG. 3 is a configuration block diagram of the image forming apparatus according to the present exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a detailed view of an operation panel of this embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an operation sequence flowchart when setting a cassette stage on the operation unit of the present embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an operation sequence flowchart when the CPU determines the cassette stage from the output request signal and the setting information.

[Fig. 7] Example of cassette size setting screen

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Reader Section 2 Printer Section 3 Operation Section 4 External Device 5 FAX Section 6 Computer Interface Section 7 Formatter Section 8 Control Section 9 Image Memory Section 10 File Section 11 External Storage Device 101 Original Feeding Device 102 Original Plate Glass Surface 109 CCD Image Sensor unit 202 Photoconductors (drums) 204, 205 Transferred paper stacking unit 206 Transfer unit 207 Fixing unit 208 Paper ejection unit 301 Touch panel 304 RAM 305 CPU 307 Display unit 308 Printer unit 309 ROM 400 Copy start key 406 Liquid crystal display unit and touch panel

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A setting means capable of setting a cassette stage for picking up a sheet at the time of output for each function, a storage means for storing the data set by the setting means, and a function indicating which function the output request is made from. Output request signal generation means,
A discriminating means for discriminating from which cassette stage the sheet is picked up from the signals generated by the storage means and the function-specific output request signal generating means, and a display means for displaying the cassette stage where the sheet is picked up. An image forming apparatus characterized by the above. 2. A setting means capable of setting a cassette size for picking up a sheet at the time of output for each function, a storage means for storing data set by the setting means, and a function indicating which function the output request is made from. Output request signal generation means, discrimination means for discriminating from which cassette size the paper is picked up from the signals generated by the storage means and the function-specific output request signal generation means, and the cassette size from which the paper is picked up is displayed. An image forming apparatus, comprising: