JPH09269703A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a compact image forming device excellent in operability, capable of reducing the kind of paper placed on a paper supply means, and unnecessitating operation to change the supply direction of the paper corresponding to an image to be formed. SOLUTION: This image forming device is provided with the 1st paper supply means 1 where the paper of A3 size is placed lengthwise in a paper supply direction, the 2nd paper supply means 2 where the paper of B4 size is placed lengthwise in the paper supply direction, and the 3rd paper supply means 3a and 3b where the paper of A4 size and the paper of B5 size being division size obtained by bisecting the paper placed in the 1st and the 2nd paper supply means 1 and 2 are respectively placed. In the case image information on an image which should be formed on the paper lengthwise in the paper supply direction is inputted, it is rotated by 90 deg. to form the image when the image is formed on the paper in the 3rd paper supply means 3a and 3b.

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. More specifically, the present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile machine, or a composite machine of them, which forms an image by rotating image information according to the orientation of a sheet.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional image forming apparatus, for example, a copying machine or a laser printer using an electrophotographic system, has a forming direction and a size of image information input from a host apparatus such as a computer or an image reading apparatus, and a target area. If an image is formed in a state where the feeding direction and size of the sheet as the image forming medium do not match, there is a problem that a part of the image to be formed is missing. Therefore, if the forming direction or size of the input image information does not match the paper feeding direction or size, correct the paper feeding direction or size by replacing the paper cassette, and then try again. Since the forming operation must be performed, the sheet is wastefully consumed, and in addition, it is troublesome to re-form an image and the operability is poor. Therefore, in order to solve such a drawback, when the image forming direction erroneously instructed by the instructing unit and the feeding direction of the sheet as the image forming medium detected by the detecting unit do not match, Is a technique for forming an image on a sheet as an image forming medium without considering the sheet feeding direction by rotating the image forming direction by the image rotating unit to match the sheet feeding direction. It is publicly known (see JP-A-2-121855).

Further, when an A4 long sheet is placed on the sheet feeding means, a sheet of the same size as the original to be read is fed to the sheet feeding means such as when the read image of the A4 original is read in the lateral direction. If the paper is placed in the wrong orientation, the controller activates the rotator to rotate the read image 90 degrees so that it is in the same direction as the paper. Alternatively, it is also known that the productivity of the image recording process is improved by making a copy output in a short time (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-270556). In addition, when the paper of the size to be printed is not placed on the paper feeding unit, printing is performed on the paper of the double size placed on the paper feeding unit, so that the paper is cut outside the device after printing. It is also known to cut a paper jam by cutting with paper (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-3.
45454). In addition, the copy magnification is automatically set based on the document size information of the read document, and the size of the sheets placed on various paper feeding means and the paper feed status information, and the document image of the read document is automatically set as necessary. It is also known to make them rotate automatically (JP-A-6-
No. 86050). In this way, the feeding direction and size of the sheets placed on various sheet feeding means as the image forming medium corresponding to the forming direction and various sizes of the formed image sent from the host device are the same. If not, by rotating the image forming direction by the image rotating means to make them coincide with each other, or by printing on the double-sized paper,
It is possible to eliminate wasteful consumption of paper and image formation again, improve operability, and improve productivity of image forming processing.

However, in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a laser printer using these electrophotographic systems, the originals to be used are placed on the sheet feeding means corresponding to the sizes A row 3 to B row 5. The paper cassettes that can be used are also 6 types of A row 3 vertical,
As a paper feeding means for accommodating papers of 4 rows of B columns, 4 columns of A rows, 4 rows of A columns, 5 rows of B columns, and 5 rows of B columns, 6 sheet feed stages are required. If the size of the original is adapted, the height of the image forming apparatus is increased, and a large space is consumed. Therefore, the direction of the accommodating portion for the paper accommodated in the paper cassette may be changed (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 56-5924).
5), a pressing member that presses the paper placed in the paper feed cassette is moved (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-121855), and a plurality of types of paper can be stored in one paper feed cassette. It has also been proposed to reduce the number of paper feed stages to some extent. However, image forming apparatuses such as copiers and laser printers that use these electrophotographic systems have a mechanism for changing the direction of the paper storage unit or the direction of the paper stored in the paper feed cassette. Since the structure is provided, the structure is complicated and large, and not only the manufacturing cost is increased, but also a large installation space is required and the operation cost is increased.

[0005]

As described above, the conventional image forming apparatus has a complicated structure, a large size, a large space is required, and the cost is increased. In addition, various types of sheets to be placed on the sheet feeding means are provided. However, there is a problem in that a complicated operation of changing the supply direction and the size corresponding to the formed image and the like must be performed. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems of the conventional technique, reduce the number of types of sheets to be placed on the sheet feeding means, and adjust the sheet feeding direction according to the image to be formed. An object of the present invention is to provide a compact and easy-to-use image forming apparatus that does not require a change operation.

[0006]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention according to claim 1 is formed when the orientation of the paper stored in the paper feed section and the orientation of the image to be formed are different. An image forming apparatus having a function of rotating image information of an image to be formed to form an image, in which a usable maximum size of a row A sheet is vertically placed in a sheet feeding direction and is fed. Means, a second paper feeding means for vertically feeding the usable maximum size of the B-row in the paper feeding direction and feeding the paper, and a second paper feeding means for loading the first paper feeding means or the second paper feeding means. And a third sheet feeding unit that feeds a sheet of a divided size obtained by dividing the sheet in a horizontally long direction in the sheet feeding direction, and stores image information of an image to be formed on a sheet vertically long in the sheet feeding direction. When input, when the image is formed on the sheet of the third sheet feeding unit, the image information is set to 9
It is characterized by having a function of forming an image by rotating it by 0 degree. Here, the means for rotating the image information by 90 degrees is
For example, a writable and readable memory (RAM) for temporarily storing image information, a writing operation for expanding the input image information in the memory, and a writing operation for the image information expanded in the memory It can be configured by a control device (CPU) that performs a reading operation by scanning and reading in a direction orthogonal to time. The invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that the third sheet feeding means has a plurality of sheet feeding means. The invention according to claim 3 is the image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first sheet feeding means is provided. The paper means places a sheet of size A in row 3 vertically so as to feed it, and the second sheet feeding means puts a sheet of size B in row 4 vertically so as to feed it. Then, the third sheet feeding means places a sheet of size A in row 4 horizontally in a sheet feeding direction and feeds it, and also places a sheet of sheet B in column 5 size in a sheet widthwise direction and feeds it. It is characterized by doing so.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, when the image information of the sheet size not prepared in the sheet feeding section is input, the image information is rotated to form an image on a sheet of double size. The image forming apparatus includes a first sheet feeding unit that vertically feeds a maximum size sheet of A column that can be used and feeds it, and a maximum size sheet of column B that can be used in a sheet feeding direction. A second sheet feeding means for vertically placing and feeding the sheet, and a sheet fed from the first sheet feeding means or the second sheet feeding means is equally divided into a first half portion and a second half portion in the sheet feeding direction. When the image information of the image to be formed on the vertically long sheet in the sheet feeding direction is input, the image information is 90 degrees. Paper feeding of paper that is rotated and fed from the first or second paper feeding unit After forming an image on one or both direction before the latter part, characterized in that the sheet was set to cut at the paper cutting means.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the fifth aspect, a sheet having a size obtained by dividing the sheet placed on the first sheet feeding means into two in the sheet feeding direction is horizontally long in the sheet feeding direction. A first split-size sheet feeding means for placing the sheet on the sheet and feeding the sheet;
A second split-size sheet feeding unit that feeds a sheet having a size obtained by dividing the sheet placed on the second sheet feeding unit in the sheet feeding direction into two in the sheet feeding direction in a landscape orientation, and the sheet cutting unit. And a paper collecting unit that collects the divided paper on the blank side that is cut and divided by the means, and the conveying unit is configured to collect the divided paper on the blank side among the divided paper that is cut and divided by the paper cutting unit. The first divided size paper feeding means or the second
It is characterized in that it has a divided size sheet feeding means or a conveyance path changing means for changing the conveying direction so as to convey to the sheet collecting section. According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the fifth aspect, the first sheet feeding means places a sheet of size A row 3 in a vertically long direction to feed the sheet, and feeds the second sheet. The paper means mounts and feeds the paper of size 4 in the row B in the lengthwise direction in the paper feeding direction, and the first paper feed means for dividing size of paper puts the paper in the size of row A 4 in the lengthwise direction in the paper feeding direction. The second divided size paper feeding means is characterized in that the B-row 5 size paper is placed horizontally in the paper feed direction and fed.

[0009]

According to the image forming apparatus constructed as described above, in the first and second aspects, the first sheet feeding device is configured so that a sheet of maximum usable size of the A-row is placed vertically in the sheet feeding direction and is fed. Means and
A second sheet feeding unit for vertically placing a sheet of the maximum usable size of the B row in the sheet feeding direction and feeding the sheet, and the first sheet feeding unit or the second sheet feeding unit.
A formed image received by the receiving unit, including a third paper feeding unit that horizontally feeds split size paper having a divided size obtained by dividing the paper placed on the paper feeding unit in the paper feeding direction When the image signal of is input in the A-row divided size paper portrait or the B-row divided size paper portrait, the image information rotation means is activated to rotate the formed image by 90 degrees and the third paper feed means feeds. It is possible to reduce the number of types of sheets to be placed on the sheet feeding unit by transferring to the A-row divided size paper or the B-row divided size paper placed horizontally in the sheet feeding direction in the paper feed direction, and to form an image to be formed. (EN) Provided is an image forming apparatus which is small in size and has good operability, which does not require an operation of changing the paper supply direction in accordance with the above.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a first sheet feeding means for vertically placing a sheet of size A row 3 in the sheet feeding direction and feeding the sheet.
Second paper feed means for vertically feeding paper of B row and 4 size in the paper feed direction, and A row of 3 paper and B row placed on the first paper feed means and the second paper feed means The fourth row is divided into four rows and the fourth row is placed horizontally in the sheet feeding direction and fed, and the fifth row in column B is placed horizontally and fed in the sheet feeding direction. The image signal of the formed image received by the receiving unit has a sheet feeding unit, and the image signal of the column A 4 size vertically long or column B 5
When the size is input vertically, the image information rotating means is activated to rotate the formed image by 90 degrees, and the row A is horizontally placed in the paper feed direction in the paper feed stage of the third paper feed means. By transferring to 4 size paper or B size 5 size paper, it is possible to reduce the number of types of paper to be placed on the paper feeding means from 4 types, which is the conventional 6 types, and to correspond to an image to be formed and the like. (EN) Provided is an image forming apparatus which is small in size and has good operability, which does not require an operation for changing the supply direction of the.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the maximum size of usable paper in the A-row is placed vertically in the paper feeding direction and is fed.
The sheet placed on the sheet feeding unit or the second sheet feeding unit that vertically feeds the usable sheet of the maximum size of the B row in the sheet feeding direction is the image signal of the formed image received by the receiving unit. Is input in A-column divided size paper portrait or B-column divided size paper portrait, the image information rotating means is activated to rotate the formed image by 90 degrees, transfer it, and cut it by the paper cutting means. Since the number of stages of the sheet feeding means can be reduced to two, the number of sheets to be placed on the sheet feeding means can be set to two as compared with the conventional six types by dividing the sheet by two. It can be reduced by up to 4 types,
(EN) Provided is an image forming apparatus which is small in size and has good operability, which does not require an operation of changing a paper feeding direction in accordance with an image to be formed.

In the present invention, the number of stages of the sheet feeding means is two.
The number of sheets can be reduced to a maximum of 4 stages compared to the conventional 6 stages, and the number of sheets to be placed on the sheet feeding means can be reduced to 2 types, and the maximum can be reduced by 4 types from the conventional 6 types. Not only does it not require the troublesome work of changing the feeding direction and size according to the formed image,
(EN) Provided is an image forming apparatus having a low operation cost, in which a blank side sheet after cutting can be conveyed to the first divided size sheet feeding means or the second divided size sheet feeding means or the sheet collecting section for reuse. . .

According to the present invention, the number of types of sheets to be placed on the sheet feeding means can be reduced to 4 types, which is less than the conventional 6 types, and the feeding direction of the sheets can be changed according to the image to be formed. There are four types of sheets to be placed on the sheet feeding means that provides a compact and easy-to-use image forming apparatus that does not require operation.
(EN) Provided is an image forming apparatus which is smaller in size than the conventional six types and which does not require an operation for changing a paper supply direction in accordance with an image to be formed and the like and which has good operability.

[0014]

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. [First Embodiment] FIG. 1 is an apparatus configuration diagram showing a first embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. The image forming apparatus shown in the figure has a first paper feeding unit 1, a second paper feeding unit 2, and a third paper feeding unit 3. The first paper feeding means 1
Then, the maximum size of the A-row that can be used in this device, for example, the A-size 3 transfer paper for forming an image,
The sheet is placed vertically in the sheet feeding direction of the arrow A in the figure, and is fed by the sheet feeding roller 1a that is rotationally driven in the direction of the arrow B by the driving unit (not shown), and is conveyed to the common sheet feeding path 9. Further, it is conveyed in the direction of the arrow C shown by the conveying roller 9a which is rotationally driven by a driving means (not shown) and is supplied to the image forming unit.
In the second sheet feeding means 2, the maximum size of the B-row that can be used in this apparatus, for example, the B-row 4 of the transfer paper for forming an image is used.
A sheet of a size is placed vertically long in the sheet feeding direction of the arrow A shown in the figure, and is shown by the arrow B shown in the figure by a driving means not shown.
The sheet is fed by the sheet feeding roller 2a which is rotated in the same direction and is driven to be rotated, is conveyed to the common sheet feeding conveying path 9, and is similarly rotated by the conveying roller 9b which is rotationally driven by the driving means (not shown). And is supplied to the image forming unit.

The third sheet feeding means 3 comprises two sheet feeding means 4
It consists of a and 4b. One of the sheet feeding means 4 of the third sheet feeding means 3
In a, a transfer sheet for forming an image of a size A row 4 size is placed horizontally long in the sheet feeding direction of the arrow A shown in the drawing,
Paper is fed by a paper feed roller 3a that is rotationally driven in the direction of the arrow B by a drive means (not shown), is conveyed to the common paper feed conveyance path 9, and is conveyed by a conveyance roller 9c that is rotationally driven by a drive means (not shown). Similarly, it is conveyed in the direction of arrow C shown and supplied to the image forming unit. The other paper feeding means 4b of the third paper feeding means 3 is
A transfer sheet for forming an image, which has a size of B rows and 5 sizes, is horizontally placed in the sheet feeding direction of the arrow A shown in the drawing, and is rotationally driven in the arrow B shown by the driving unit (not shown). The sheet is fed by 3b, is fed to the common sheet feeding path 9, and is similarly fed in the direction of arrow C shown in the figure by a feeding roller 9d which is rotationally driven by a driving unit (not shown) to be supplied to the image forming unit. It is like this.

A photoconductor 10 is provided in the image forming section. The photoconductor 10 is rotatably supported about a horizontal axis,
It is adapted to be rotationally driven in the direction of the arrow D shown by a driving means (not shown). Around the photoconductor 10, a charging device 15, an exposing device 16, a developing device 17, a transfer device 18, and a cleaning unit 21 are arranged in the order of the image forming process. The surface 10a on the photoconductor 10 is a charger 1
A predetermined byice voltage is applied by means of 5 so as to be uniformly charged. Exposure means 16
Is the photoconductor while adjusting the timing with the emission of a laser light source (not shown) or the rotation of the photoconductor 10 according to an image signal given from a control device 14 described later via an image information rotation device 11 described later. The uniformly charged surface 10a on 10 is exposed to form an electrostatic latent image. The developing device 17 visualizes the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface 10a on the photoconductor 10 by the exposing means 16 to form a toner image. The transfer device 18 synchronizes the toner image formed on the surface 10 a on the photoconductor 10 by the developing device 17 with the rotation of the photoconductor 10 to synchronize the toner image with the first to the first toner images.
The image is transferred to the paper fed from the third paper feeding means 1 to 3. The sheet separated from the surface 10a on the photoconductor 10 and having the toner image transferred thereto is heated and fixed by the fixing device 19 while being pressed, and is conveyed along the conveying path 6a of the conveying means 6 to be ejected. The paper is discharged to the paper tray 20. On the other hand, the residual toner remaining on the surface 10a of the photoconductor 10 after the toner image is transferred onto the sheet is cleaned by the cleaning unit 2.
It is scraped off by 1 to prepare for the next image formation.

The control means 14 receives the image information of the image to be formed transmitted from the original image reading device or the host device 12 such as a host computer by the receiving means 13,
When the received image information is input in a vertically long size of A row 3 size, the paper feed roller 1a of the first paper feeding means 1 is driven to feed a paper of A row 3 size and a B row of 4 size. When input in portrait orientation, the paper feed roller 2a of the second paper feed means 2
To feed paper of size 4 in row B, and when the paper is input in length 4 of size A in row A, the paper feeding roller 3a of one paper feeding means 4a of the third paper feeding means 3 is driven. Te A row 4
When paper of a size of B is input in the lengthwise direction of column B 5 size, the paper feed roller 3b of the other paper feeding means 4b of the third paper feeding means 3 is driven to drive the paper of size B row 5 Feed paper. Further, the control unit 14 controls the paper feeding operation, and at the same time, the image information of the image to be formed received by the receiving unit 13 and the input direction of the image information, that is, the image information is vertically long in the paper feeding direction. And a control signal according to whether the image information is the image information of the image to be formed on the sheet or the image information of the image to be formed on the vertically long sheet. The image information rotating means 11 inputs the image information received by the receiving means 13 in a vertically long size of A column 3 size, in a vertically long size of B column 4 size, and in a horizontally long size of A column 4 size. Case, and row B 5
When the size is input horizontally, the control means 14 is used.
Not started by. That is, in these cases,
The image signal from the control means 14 is directly exposed to the exposure means 16
Is output to On the other hand, when the image information received by the receiving means 13 is input in the vertically long size of the A column 4 size and the vertically long size of the B column 5 size, the image information rotating means 11 is controlled by the control means 14. The image signal is converted so as to rotate the formed image by 90 degrees and output to the exposure unit 16.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the operation of the main part of the above-mentioned image forming apparatus. In the figure,
An image signal transmitted from the host device 12, for example, image information of a vertically formed image (“IMAGIO”) in the input direction of A column 4 size as shown in the figure is received by the receiving unit 13, and the image information is received by the control unit. After being sent to the image information rotating means 11 via 14 and converted into image information rotated by 90 degrees, the paper P on the A row 4 side correctly fed from the paper feeding means 4a through the following series of processes is correctly performed. A horizontally long image (“IMAGIO”) is formed. As described above, according to the image forming apparatus of this embodiment, as the paper feeding means, four kinds of papers of A row 3 vertical, B row 4 vertical, A row 4 horizontal, and B row 5 horizontal are supplied. Paper feeding means 1, 2, 4a, 4b
Despite having a device configuration with only a row, row A 3 vertical, row B 4
Vertical, A row 4 vertical, A row 4 horizontal, B row 5 vertical, and B row 5 horizontal 6
Various types of image formation can be performed. Therefore, in order to deal with each size of the image information transmitted from the host device 12, six types of A columns 3 vertical and B columns 4 are conventionally used.
There is no need for a paper feed means for feeding vertical, A row 4 vertical, A row 4 horizontal, B row 5 vertical, and B row 5 horizontal papers and a paper feed cassette for storing 6 kinds of papers. Paper means 1, 2, 4
It suffices to have a sheet feeding cassette for accommodating four types of sheets a and 4b, and it is complicated to change the direction of the sheet placed on the sheet feeding means 4a and 4b according to the image to be formed. Since it is not necessary to provide a mechanism, the structure can be made smaller and simpler than the conventional device. The downsizing of the device does not require a large installation space, and the simplification can reduce the manufacturing cost.

Second Embodiment FIG. 3 is an apparatus configuration diagram showing another embodiment of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention. The image forming apparatus shown in FIG.
It has a second paper feeding means 102, a third paper feeding means 103, a paper cutting means 5, transport path switching claws 7, 107a and 107b as transport path changing means, and a paper collecting section 8. In the first sheet feeding means 101, the maximum size of the A-row that can be used in this apparatus, for example, the A-size 3 transfer sheet for forming an image, is vertically elongated in the paper feeding direction indicated by the arrow A in the figure. The sheet is placed and fed by a sheet feeding roller 101a which is rotationally driven in the direction of an arrow B shown by a driving unit (not shown), is conveyed to a common sheet feeding conveyance path 109, and is rotationally driven by a driving unit (not shown). Transport roller 1
09a conveys the image to the image forming portion in the direction of arrow C in the figure. In the second paper feeding means 102,
The maximum size of the B-row that can be used in this apparatus, for example, the transfer-paper forming size of the B-row, 4 size, is placed vertically long in the sheet feeding direction of the arrow A in the figure, and is not shown in the drawing. Is fed by a paper feed roller 102a which is rotated and driven to rotate in the direction of arrow B shown in the drawing, is conveyed to the common paper feed conveyance path 9, and is similarly rotated by a conveyance roller 109b which is rotationally driven by a driving unit (not shown). Is conveyed in the direction of arrow C shown in the figure and supplied to the image forming unit.

The third paper feeding means 103 comprises two paper feeding means 104a and 104b. In one sheet feeding unit 104a of the third sheet feeding unit 103, a transfer sheet for forming an image of a size A row 4 size is placed horizontally in the sheet feeding direction in the direction of arrow A in the figure, and is driven by a drive not shown. The sheet is fed by a sheet feeding roller 103a which is rotationally driven in the direction of the arrow B shown in the figure, and is conveyed to the common sheet feeding conveying path 109,
A transport roller 1 which is rotationally driven by a driving unit (not shown)
By 09c, it is similarly conveyed in the direction of arrow C in the figure and supplied to the image forming unit. The other sheet feeding unit 104b of the third sheet feeding unit 103 is a transfer sheet for forming an image, and a sheet of size B row 5 size is placed horizontally long in the sheet feeding direction of the arrow A in the figure, and is not shown. A sheet feeding roller 1 which is rotationally driven in the direction of arrow B shown in the drawing by a driving unit.
The sheet is fed by 03b, is fed to the common sheet feeding path 9, and is similarly fed in the direction of arrow C shown in the figure by a feeding roller 9d which is rotationally driven by a driving unit (not shown) to be supplied to the image forming unit. It is like this.

A photoconductor 110 is provided in the image forming section. The photoconductor 110 is rotatably supported around a horizontal axis, and is rotationally driven in a direction indicated by an arrow D by a driving unit (not shown). A charger 115 and an exposure unit 11 are provided around the photoconductor 110 in the order of the image forming process.
6, a developing device 117, a transfer device 118, and a cleaning unit 121 are arranged. The surface 110 a on the photoconductor 110 is uniformly charged by applying a predetermined byice voltage by the charger 115. The control unit 114 controls the above-described paper feeding operation, and at the same time, inputs the image information received by the receiving unit 103 and the input direction of the image information, that is, the image information of the image to be formed on a paper sheet vertically long in the paper feeding direction. Is it image information,
A control signal according to whether the image information is the image information of an image to be formed on a vertically long sheet is supplied to the image information rotating means 101.

The image information rotating means 111 receives the image information received by the receiving means 113 when it is vertically input in column A and 3 sizes, and when it is input vertically in column B and 4 sizes.
The control unit 114 is not activated when the column 4 size is horizontally input and when the B column 5 size is horizontally input. That is, in these cases, the image signal from the control means 114 is directly exposed to the exposure means 116.
Is output to On the other hand, when the image information received by the receiving means 113 is input in a vertically long size of A column 4 size,
And when inputting in the vertically long size of column B 5 size, the image information rotation means 111 is activated by the control means 114,
The image signal is converted so as to rotate the formed image by 90 degrees and is output to the exposure unit 116.

The exposure means 116 emits light from a laser light source (not shown) or the photoconductor 110 according to an image signal given from the control means 114 via the image information rotation means 111.
While adjusting the timing of rotation of the photoconductor 110,
The uniformly charged upper surface 110a is exposed to form an electrostatic latent image. The developing device 117 visualizes the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface 110 a on the photoconductor 110 by the exposing unit 116 to form a toner image.
The transfer device 118 transfers the toner image formed on the surface 110 a on the photoconductor 110 by the developing device 117 to the photoconductor 110.
In synchronism with the rotation of, the transfer is performed on the paper fed from the first to third paper feeding means 1 to 3. However, in this embodiment, when the image signal received by the receiving unit 113 is input in a vertically long size of A row 4 size, the transfer device 118 according to the present embodiment forms a toner image on the surface 110a on the photoconductor 110. To
Under the control of the control means 114, the A-row 3 size paper fed from the first paper feed means 101 is transferred to each of the front and rear halves in the paper feed direction or to only one of the halves, for example, the latter half. It is like this.

The transfer device 118 is provided with the receiving means 11 described above.
When the image signal received in 3 is input in the lengthwise direction of the B-row 5 size, the toner image formed on the surface 110a on the photoconductor 110 is controlled by the control means 114 to the second paper feeding means 102. The B-row 4 size paper fed from the above is transferred to each of the front and rear halves in the paper feed direction or to only one of the halves. Surface 11 on photoconductor 110
The paper to which the toner image is transferred is separated from 0a and is heated and fixed by the fixing device 119 while being pressed,
The sheet is conveyed along the conveying path 106a of the conveying unit 106 and discharged onto the sheet discharge tray 120. On the other hand, the residual toner remaining on the surface 110a of the photoconductor 110 after the toner image is transferred to the sheet is cleaned by the cleaning unit 1.
It is scraped off by 21 to prepare for the next image formation. The sheet separated from the surface 110a on the photoconductor 110 and transferred with the toner image is heated and fixed by a fixing device 119 while being pressed, and is conveyed through the conveyance path 106a of the conveyance means 106 to be ejected. The paper tray 120 is configured to be discharged and stored.

However, in the sheet cutting means 5 arranged on the carrying path 106a of the carrying means 106, the image signal received by the receiving means 113 is the length A and the size of B of the size 4 and B.
When the input is in the vertically long size of the column 5 size, the control unit 114 drives the fixing unit 119 to divide the A-size 3 size paper and the B-row 4 size paper into two. It has become. At this time, the paper is cut so as to be equally divided into front and rear in the transport direction. The paper path cut by the paper cutting means 5 and divided into two is switched by a transfer path switching claw 7 which is a transfer path changing means. The transport path switching claw 7 can be rotated up and down. When the transport path switching claw 7 is in the state shown by the solid line, the paper transport path is the paper recovery transport path 106b.
When the state is changed to the state indicated by the broken line, the sheet can be guided to the conveying path 106a and discharged to the sheet discharge tray 120. The conveyance path switching claw 7 is controlled by the control unit 114, and if one of the divided sheets divided into two is a blank sheet, that is, no image is formed (not transferred), for example, it is divided into two. When the first half is blank, the portion is driven to the sheet collecting / conveying path 106b, and the second half portion on which the other image is formed is discharged to the discharge tray 120.

The sheet whose transfer path has been changed from the transfer path 106a to the paper recovery / transfer path 106b as described above is transferred by the transfer path switching claw 7a which is a transfer path changing means provided in the paper recovery / transfer path 106b. The conveying direction is switched, and the sheet is conveyed to and stored in the sheet collecting unit 8. The paper stored in the paper collecting section 8 is manually taken out from the paper collecting section 8 and placed on the paper feeding means 104a or 104b of the third paper feeding means 103 to be used as a transfer paper, or It can be used for other purposes. On the other hand, when the transport path switching claw 107a of the transport path changing means rotates from the solid line state to the broken line direction, it is further transported by the sheet recovery transport path 106c without being stored in the sheet recovery section 8. If the sheet conveyed by the sheet collecting / conveying path 106c is horizontally long in size A row 4 by the conveying path changing means 7b, it is conveyed to the sheet feeding means 104a of the third sheet feeding means 103. On the other hand, in the case of the horizontal direction of the row B 5 size, to the path 106d, the conveyance path is changed to the sheet collection conveyance path 106e that conveys to the sheet feeding unit 104b of the third sheet feeding unit 103, and the automatic conveyance is performed. Specifically, the sheet is stored in the sheet feeding unit 104a or the sheet feeding unit 104b and used as a transfer sheet.

Therefore, in order to correspond to the sizes A column 3 to B column 5 of the formed image received by the receiving means 113, the image signal of the formed image transmitted from the host device 112 such as the original image reading device or the host computer. , 6 types as in the conventional case, the number of sheet feeding means for storing sheets of A row 3 vertical, B row 4 vertical, A row 4 vertical, A row 4 horizontal, B row 5 vertical, B row 5 horizontal There is no need for a paper feed cassette for storing paper, and two or four types of the first paper feed means 1, the second paper feed means 2, or a plurality of paper feed means 4a of the third paper feed means are provided. Since the number of sheet feeding means of the sheet feeding means 4b and the sheet feeding cassette for storing two kinds of sheets are sufficient, not only the structure is small, the cost is reduced without requiring a large space, and the sheet feeding means is also provided. The type of paper cassette that stores the paper placed on the Less and, a paper feed cassette or the like corresponding to the formed image or the like to provide an image forming apparatus which does not require a troublesome work of replacing the feed direction and size has become possible.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the structure of the paper cutting means 5. In the figure, the paper cutting means 5 is stretched between one pulley 5d in which a rotary shaft 5c is integrally fixed to a drive shaft 5b of a stepping motor 5a which is driven by the control means 114 to rotate, and the other pulley 5e. It is provided with an endless belt 5f that reciprocates in the direction of arrow E shown in the drawing, and a cutter 5h is fixed to this endless belt 5f via a fixing member 5g. The cutter 5h is on standby at one of the left and right ends in the paper transport direction. Then, when the paper (P) of A row 3 size or B row 4 size fed by the first or second paper feeding means 101 or 102 passes through, the stepping motor 5a is operated by the control means 114. By rotationally driving, the cutter 5h moves in the direction of the arrow E shown in the figure, so that the paper P is cut in the middle and divided into two.

5 and 6 are block diagrams showing the operation of the main part of the above-mentioned image forming apparatus. In FIG. 5, the image signal transmitted from the host device 112,
For example, as shown in the drawing, the vertically long “IMAGIO” in the input direction of the size A column 4 or the size B column 5 is received by the receiving unit 113, and the image information thereof is sent to the image information rotating unit 111 via the control unit 114. By being converted into image information rotated by 90 degrees, A
After the sheets (P) of the row 3 size or the row B 4 size are transferred to the front and rear halves in the feeding direction, respectively, and image formation is performed, the sheet cutting means 5 performs the row A 3 size or the row B 4 size. The sheet (P) is cut and divided into front and rear halves in the sheet feeding direction to obtain a pair of sheets (P1) on which an image of A row 4 size or B row 5 size is formed. The divided front and back half sheets (P1) are
When the transport path switching claw 7 is rotated in a broken line state, the transport path switching claw 7 is transported through the transport path 106a and is discharged and stored in the discharge tray 120.

In FIG. 6, the image signal transmitted from the host device 112, for example, a vertically long "IMAGIO" in the input direction of the size A column 4 or the size B column 5 as shown in FIG. The image information is control means 1
After being sent to the image information rotating means 111 via 14 and converted into image information rotated by 90 degrees, the paper feed direction of the paper (P) of A row 3 size or B row 4 size through a series of subsequent processes. After the image is formed by being transferred to only one of the front and rear halves of the sheet, the sheet cutting means 5 cuts the sheet (P) of the A-row 3 size or the B-row 4 size into the front and rear halves in the sheet feeding direction. As a result, a sheet (P1) on which an image of A row 4 size or a B row 5 size is formed and a blank sheet (P2) on which an image is not formed are obtained.

In this case, the blank sheet (P2) is guided from the paper collecting and conveying path 106b to the paper collecting section 8 or the paper collecting and conveying path 106c by the conveying path changing claw 7a of the conveying path changing means. Further, according to the size of the paper, the path is switched by the transfer path changing claw 7b of the transfer path changing means, and the A4 of the third paper feeding means 103 is set.
Row side sheet feeding means 104a or B5 row side sheet feeding means 104
b. On the other hand, the paper on which the image is formed (P
In the case of 1), after being cut, it is conveyed as it is through the conveyance path 106a, and is ejected and stored in the ejection tray 120. As described above, the sheet (P2) on the blank side after cutting is fed by the sheet feeding unit 104.
By transporting the sheet to the sheet a, 104b or the sheet collecting unit 8 and reusing it, the sheet can be saved and the operating cost can be reduced. In the claims and the above-mentioned embodiment, the sheet sizes of the rows A and B have been described as an example.
This is merely an example and does not mean that the present invention cannot be applied to other paper sizes. That is,
The present invention can be applied not only to sheets of different sizes according to domestic standards, but also to sheets of different sizes according to foreign and other standards.

[0032]

The present invention has the following excellent effects. According to the first and second aspects of the invention, usable A
A first sheet feeding means for vertically placing a sheet of the maximum size in the sheet feeding direction and feeding the sheet, and a first sheet feeding means for placing a sheet of the maximum usable size of the B column in the vertically direction and feeding the sheet. A second paper feeding unit and a third paper feeding unit that feeds a divided size paper of a divided size obtained by dividing the paper placed on the first paper feeding unit or the second paper feeding unit by horizontally placing it in the paper feeding direction. When the image signal of the formed image received by the receiving means is input in the A-row divided size paper portrait or the B-row divided size paper portrait, the image information rotation means is activated to form the formed image. Rotate 90 degrees,
A placed horizontally in the paper feed direction of the third paper feed means in the paper feed direction
By transferring to the row division size paper or the row B division size paper, it is possible to reduce the number of kinds of the paper placed on the paper feeding means and to change the paper feeding direction according to the image to be formed. It is possible to provide a small-sized image forming apparatus which does not require an operation to be performed and has good operability.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the first sheet feeding means for vertically placing the sheet of size A column 3 in the sheet feeding direction and feeding the sheet and the sheet of sheet size B column 4 of the sheet feeding direction A second sheet feeding means for vertically placing and feeding sheets, and an A column 4 obtained by dividing sheets of A column 3 size and B column 4 size placed on the first sheet feeding section and the second sheet feeding section. A third sheet feeding means for placing a sheet of size B horizontally in the sheet feeding direction to feed the sheet and a sheet of row B 5 size horizontally for feeding the sheet; When the image signal of the formed image received by the means is input in the A column, 4 size portrait orientation or the B column, 5 size portrait orientation, the image information rotating means is activated to rotate the formed image by 90 degrees to generate the third image.
Row A 4 placed horizontally in the paper feed direction in the paper feed stage of the paper feed means
By transferring the size paper or the B-row 5 size paper, it is possible to reduce the number of types of paper to be placed on the paper feeding means from four types, which is the conventional six types, and to correspond to an image to be formed. It is possible to provide a small-sized image forming apparatus having good operability, which does not require an operation for changing the paper supply direction.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the first sheet feeding means for placing a sheet of the maximum usable size of the row A in the sheet feeding direction in a portrait orientation or feeding the sheet of the maximum usable size of the row B is used. The image signal of the formed image received by the receiving unit of the sheet placed on the second sheet feeding unit for placing the sheet vertically in the sheet feeding direction and feeding the sheet is the A column divided size sheet vertically or the B column divided size. When the paper is input in portrait orientation, the image information rotating means is activated to rotate the formed image by 90 degrees, transfer it, and cut the paper by the paper cutting means to divide the paper. It is possible to reduce the number of stages of the above to a minimum of two, and it is possible to set the number of types of sheets to be placed on the sheet feeding means to two, which can be reduced by a maximum of four types from the conventional six types, and should be formed. Operation to change the paper feeding direction according to the image etc. Not essential, to provide a compact and good operability image forming apparatus.

According to the fifth aspect of the invention, the number of stages of the sheet feeding means can be set to 2, and the number of sheets can be reduced by up to 4 stages as compared with the conventional 6 stages, and the number of sheets placed on the sheet feeding means is 2 as well. Since it is possible to reduce the number of types by up to 4 types compared to the conventional 6 types, not only does the complicated work of changing the feeding direction and size corresponding to the formed image etc., but also the blank side paper after cutting. It is possible to provide an image forming apparatus that can be reused by being transported to the first divided size sheet feeding unit or the second divided size sheet feeding unit or the sheet collection unit and reused.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the number of types of sheets to be placed on the sheet feeding means can be reduced to four types, which is less than the conventional six types, and the sheet feeding direction can be set corresponding to the image to be formed. It is possible to provide a small-sized image forming apparatus having good operability, which does not require an operation for changing.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an apparatus configuration diagram showing a first embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an operation of a main part of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is an apparatus configuration diagram showing a first embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a structure of a paper cutting unit of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. It is a block diagram which shows operation.

5 is a block diagram showing another operation of the main part of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG.

6 is a block diagram showing an operation of a main part of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 1st paper feeding means, 1a paper feeding roller, 2 2nd paper feeding means, 2a paper feeding roller, 3rd paper feeding means, 3a paper feeding roller, 4 plural paper feeding means, 4a paper feeding means, 4b paper feeding Paper means, 5 Paper cutting means, 5h cutter, 6
Conveying means, 6a conveying path, 7 conveying path changing means,
8 paper collecting section, 9 common paper feeding transport path, 9a transport roller, 9b transport roller, 9c transport roller, 9d transport roller, 10 photoconductor, 11 image information rotating means, 12 host device, 13 receiving means, 14 control means, 15 charging device, 16 exposure means, 17 developing device, 18 transfer device,
19 fixing device, 20 paper discharge tray, 21 cleaning unit, 101 first paper feeding means, 101a paper feeding roller, 102 second paper feeding means, 102a paper feeding roller, 10
3 Third Paper Feeding Means, 103a Paper Feed Rollers, 104 Paper Feeding Means, 104a Paper Feeding Means (First Divided Size Paper Feeding Means), 104b Paper Feeding Means (Second Divided Size Paper Feeding Means), 106 Conveying Means , 106a transport path, 106
b paper collecting and conveying path, 106c paper collecting and conveying path, 10
6d paper collecting and conveying path, 106e paper collecting and conveying path, 1
07 transport path changing means, 107a transport path changing claw,
107b conveying path changing claw, 109 common paper feeding conveying path,
109a transport roller, 109b transport roller, 109c transport roller, 109d transport roller, 110 photoconductor, 111
Image information rotating means, 112 host device, 113 receiving means, 114 control means, 115 charger, 116 exposure means, 117 developing device, 118 transfer device, 119 fixing device, 120 paper discharge tray, 121 cleaning unit

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus having a function of forming an image by rotating image information of an image to be formed when the orientation of the paper stored in the paper feed unit is different from the orientation of the image to be formed. In addition, the first sheet feeding means for loading the maximum usable size of the row A in the vertical direction in the sheet feeding direction and feeding the maximum size sheet of the maximum available row B in the vertical direction in the feeding direction A second sheet feeding unit for placing and feeding the sheet and a sheet of a divided size obtained by dividing the sheet placed on the first sheet feeding unit or the second sheet feeding unit are placed horizontally in the sheet feeding direction. When the image information of the image to be formed on the sheet that is vertically long in the sheet feeding direction is input, the image is formed on the sheet of the third sheet feeding unit. An image forming apparatus having a function of rotating the image information by 90 degrees to form an image. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the third sheet feeding unit has a plurality of sheet feeding units. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
The first sheet feeding means places a sheet of size A in column 3 vertically in the sheet feeding direction to feed the sheet, and the second sheet feeding means places sheet of size B in the column B vertically in a sheet feeding direction. The third sheet feeding means places a sheet of size A in row 4 horizontally in the sheet feeding direction and feeds it, and a sheet of sheet B in column B 5 in the sheet feeding direction horizontally. An image forming apparatus, which is placed and fed. 4. An image forming apparatus having a function of, when image information of a paper size not accommodated in a paper feeding section is input, rotating the image information and forming an image on a paper of a double size. A first sheet feeding means for vertically placing the maximum size of the usable paper in the row A in the paper feeding direction and feeding the first maximum size of usable paper in the vertical direction in the paper feeding direction. Second paper feeding means for feeding the first and second paper feeding means, and a paper cutting means for equally dividing the paper fed from the first paper feeding means or the second paper feeding means into a first half portion and a second half portion in the paper feeding direction. A conveying means for conveying the sheet cut by the sheet cutting means,
When image information of an image to be formed on a vertically long sheet is input in the sheet feeding direction, the image information is rotated by 90 degrees to feed the sheet fed from the first or second sheet feeding unit. An image forming apparatus characterized in that after the image is formed on one or both of the front and rear parts of the direction, the paper is cut by the paper cutting means. 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein
A first split-size sheet feeding unit that feeds a sheet of a size obtained by dividing the sheet placed on the first sheet feeding unit into two in the sheet feeding direction in a horizontally long direction in the sheet feeding direction; A second split size sheet feeding unit that feeds a sheet of a size that is obtained by dividing a sheet placed on the sheet feeding unit into two in the sheet feeding direction, and cuts by the sheet cutting unit. And a sheet collecting unit for collecting the divided divided sheets on the side of the blank sheet, wherein the conveying unit sets the divided sheet on the blank sheet side among the divided sheets divided by the sheet cutting unit to the first divided sheet. An image forming apparatus comprising: a division size sheet feeding unit, the second division size sheet feeding unit, or a conveyance path changing unit that changes a conveyance direction so as to convey the sheet to the sheet collection unit. 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein
The first sheet feeding means places a sheet of size A in column 3 vertically in the sheet feeding direction to feed the sheet, and the second sheet feeding means places sheet of size B in the column B vertically in a sheet feeding direction. The first divided-size paper feeding means places the A-size 4 size paper horizontally in the feeding direction and feeds the paper, and the second divided-size paper feeding means operates the B-row 5 An image forming apparatus characterized in that a sheet of a size is horizontally placed in a sheet feeding direction and is fed.