JPH0968892A - Image forming device and method therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming device with excellent operability capable of smoothly performing change of operation mode, even when the operation mode is changed in the processing of the image forming. SOLUTION: This digital copying machine is provided with a control panel for setting one of plural copying modes and various image forming conditions, a storage section for storing the image forming conditions being set, and the image forming section 6 for forming the image on a recording medium corresponding to the image information of an original read by a scanner 4, based on the copying mode and the condition being set. When the copying mode is changed through the control panel, in mid way of the image forming by the image forming section, the control section 301 is allowed to interrupt the image forming operation, to reset the initial image forming condition stored in the storage section, and thereafter, the image forming is resumed corresponding to the changed copying mode and the initial image forming condition.

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, and more particularly to a digital type image forming apparatus having an image compression / decompression function, an image storage function and the like, and an image forming method thereof.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a digital copying machine is a scanner for reading image information of a document, an image processing section for performing various image processing on image information read by the scanner or image information input from an external device. , And an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium according to the image information output from the image processing unit.

Further, such a copying machine can form an image in various copying modes such as basic copying, memory copying, electronic sorting, etc., and each copying mode is controlled by different application software.

In the basic copying mode, the image information read by the scanner is directly formed on the recording medium without passing through the memory. In the memory copy mode, the image data read by the scanner is temporarily stored in the memory, subjected to desired image processing, and then read from the memory to form an image.

In the electronic sort mode, image information read by a scanner from a plurality of originals is stored in a memory, then read from the memory while being sorted and an image is formed on a recording medium.

In the memory copy mode and the electronic sort mode, since the read image information is input to the memory, a necessary area is secured at the start of copying so as not to invade the area of the memory used for other application software.

[0007]

Normally, when copying a document, a desired copy mode is set and
Number of copies (number of copies), copy magnification, paper size, double-sided copy,
Copying is started after setting copying conditions such as adding page numbers.

However, when the copying mode is changed to another copying mode while the copying is being performed in a certain copying mode, for example, the copying mode is mistakenly started and then the copying mode is changed to the correct copying mode. In case of change,
If copying is started in that state, the copy result intended by the operator before the start of copying cannot be obtained depending on the changed copy mode.

For example, although copying was intended in the electronic sort mode, copying is started in the basic copying mode,
When the mode is changed to the electronic sort mode on the way, the sorting is started from the number of documents in the countdown and the original document being conveyed, and the set copy condition is not normally reflected in the copy result. Therefore, it is necessary to repeat copying from the beginning again, and there is a problem that paper is wasted and the operation takes time.

It is also possible to set the copy conditions again at the time of changing the copy mode, but in this case also, it is necessary to input all the copy conditions again, and the operation is troublesome. It may take time or make an input error.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object thereof is to perform the operation mode change smoothly and in a short time even when the operation mode is changed in the middle of image formation, and it is excellent in operability. An object is to provide an image forming apparatus and an image forming method.

[0012]

In order to achieve the above object, an image reading apparatus according to claim 1 of the present invention sets a reading unit for reading image information of an original, an image forming condition and an image forming mode. Means, storage means for storing the set initial image forming conditions, and an image corresponding to the image information read by the reading means on a recording medium based on the set image forming conditions and the image forming mode. An image forming unit for forming, a detecting unit for detecting a setting change of the image forming mode, and a storing unit for storing the image forming mode setting change detected by the detecting unit during the image formation by the image forming unit. And a control means for restarting image formation according to the set initial image forming conditions and the changed image forming mode. It is set to.

An image forming apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention comprises an information storage means for accumulating the image information read by the reading means, and the setting means is the reading means.
A first image forming mode in which the image information of the original is output every time the original is read, and all the image information read by the reading means is accumulated in the information storage means, and then the image information is read from the information storage means. The second image forming mode to be output as a result can be selectively set. Then, the control unit, when the setting change of the image forming mode between the first and second image forming modes is detected by the detecting unit during the image formation by the image forming unit, the control unit stores the initial value stored in the condition storing unit. Reset the image forming conditions,
Image formation is restarted in the image formation mode whose setting has been changed.

An image forming apparatus according to a third aspect of the present invention comprises an information storage means for accumulating the image information read by the reading means, and the setting means sets the originals every time the reading means reads the originals one by one. A first image forming mode in which image information is output, a second image forming mode in which all image information read by the reading means is accumulated in the information storage means and then image information is read out from the information storage means and output The third image forming mode, in which all the image information read by the reading means is stored in the storage means and then the image information is output while sorting, can be selectively set. Then, when the third image forming mode is set, the recording medium on which the image is formed by the image forming means is divided by the dividing means and output. The control unit, when the setting change of the image forming mode between the first to third image forming modes is detected by the detecting unit during the image formation by the image forming unit, the initial image formation stored in the condition storing unit. The conditions are reset, and the image formation is restarted in the changed image formation mode.

An image forming apparatus according to a fourth aspect of the present invention comprises a reading means for reading image information of an original, one of a plurality of copy modes, an image forming condition including the number of copies of the original and a plurality of copy functions. Setting means for selectively setting the image information, the storage means for storing the set initial image forming conditions, and the image information read by the reading means based on the set image forming conditions and the image forming mode. An image forming means for forming a corresponding image on a recording medium; a detecting means for detecting a setting change of the copy mode; and a detecting means for detecting a setting change of the copy mode during image formation by the image forming means. Control means for returning the number of copies and the copying function to the initial values stored in the storage means.

According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention configured as described above, the image information of the document read by the reading means is based on the image forming mode and the image forming condition selected and set by the setting means. An image is formed on the recording medium by the image forming means. If the setting of the image forming mode is changed to another image forming mode during the image formation by the image forming unit, the detecting unit detects the setting change, and the control unit interrupts the image forming and sets the image forming condition. The initial image forming conditions set at the beginning are automatically restored.

After that, when the image formation is restarted, the image forming means forms an image on the recording medium based on the initially set initial image forming condition and the image forming mode after the setting is changed.

According to a sixth aspect of the image forming method of the present invention, a step of setting an input image forming condition and an image forming mode, a step of storing the set initial image forming condition, and an original document. Reading and reading the image information, the step of forming an image according to the read image information on the recording medium based on the set image forming condition and the image forming mode, and the change in the setting of the image forming mode is detected. Step, and when the setting change of the image forming mode is detected during the image forming step, the stored initial image forming condition is reset, and the initial image forming condition and the changed image forming are set. And a step of restarting image formation based on the mode.

[0019]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a digital copying machine will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, the digital copying machine includes an apparatus main body 10, and in the apparatus main body 10, a scanner 4 that functions as an image reading unit, which will be described later, and an image forming unit 6 that functions as an image forming unit are provided. ing.

On the upper surface of the apparatus main body 10, there are provided an operation panel 2 which will be described later, and a rectangular original placing table 12 made of transparent glass on which an original to be read is placed. Further, an automatic document feeder (hereinafter referred to as ADF) 7 for supplying the documents D to the document table 12 one by one is arranged on the upper surface of the apparatus body 10. The ADF 7 is provided so as to be openable and closable with respect to the document placing table 12, and allows the document placed on the document placing table 12 to be placed on the document placing table 12
It also functions as a document retainer that adheres to the.

The ADF 7 includes a document tray 8 on which a document is set, an empty sensor 9 for detecting the presence or absence of the document, a pickup roller 14 for taking out the document one by one from the document tray, a paper feed roller 15 for conveying the taken out document, An aligning sensor 5 for detecting the leading edge of the document and an aligning roller pair 16 for aligning the leading edge of the document are provided, and these are arranged along the left side edge of the document table 12 in FIG. Further, the ADF 7 includes a transport belt 18 arranged so as to cover almost the entire document placing table 12. Then, the plurality of originals set on the original tray are taken out in order from the lowest page, aligned by the aligning roller pair 16, and then conveyed by the conveying belt 18 to a predetermined position on the original placing table 12. It

In the ADF 7, the reversing roller 2 is provided at the end opposite to the aligning roller pair 16 with the conveyor belt 18 in between, that is, in the vicinity of the right side edge of the document table 12.
0, non-reversing sensor 21, flapper 22, paper discharge roller 23
Are arranged. A document whose image information has been read by a scanner 4, which will be described later, is sent out from the document placing table 12 by a conveyor belt 18, and is fed by a reversing roller 20 and a flapper 2.
1, and the sheet is discharged onto the sheet discharge unit 24 on the upper surface of the ADF via the sheet discharge roller 22. When the back side of the original is read, the flapper 22 is switched so that the original conveyed by the conveyor belt 18 is reversed by the reversing roller 20 and then conveyed again to a predetermined position on the original placing table 12 by the conveyor belt 18. .

The scanner 4 provided in the apparatus body 10
Has an illumination lamp 25, such as a fluorescent lamp, which illuminates an original placed on the original placing table 12, and a first mirror 26 which deflects reflected light from the original in a predetermined direction. The first mirror is attached to a first carriage 27 arranged below the document table 12. The first carriage 27 is movably arranged in parallel with the document placing table 12 along a direction parallel to the long side of the document placing table 12, and is driven by a drive motor via a toothed belt (not shown) or the like. Is reciprocated below. Therefore, the original placed on the original placing table 12 is scanned by the light from the illumination lamp 25 in the sub-scanning direction.

A second carriage 28, which is movable in the sub-scanning direction, is arranged below the document table 12. The second mirror 28 has the first mirror 2
Second and third mirrors 30 and 35 for sequentially deflecting the reflected light from the document deflected by 6 are mounted at right angles to each other. The second carriage 28 is driven by the first carriage 27 by a toothed belt or the like that drives the first carriage 27, and at the same time, the original is placed at a speed half that of the first carriage. It is moved in parallel along the table 12.

Below the document table 12, an image forming lens 32 for converging the reflected light from the third mirror 35 on the second carriage 28 and a reflected light focused by the image forming lens are received. An electric signal, that is, a CCD line image sensor 34 for converting it into image data is provided. The imaging lens 32 is movably arranged in a plane including the optical axis of the light deflected by the third mirror 35, and by moving itself, the reflected light is imaged at a desired magnification. The CCD line image sensor 34 is provided so as to extend along the main scanning direction orthogonal to the sub scanning direction.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG.
Is provided with a laser exposure device 40 that functions as an exposure unit. The laser exposure device 40 includes a semiconductor laser 41 as a light source, a polygon mirror 36 that continuously deflects the laser light emitted from the semiconductor laser 41, and a polygon motor 37 that rotationally drives the polygon mirror at a predetermined rotation speed.
And an optical system 42 that deflects the laser light from the polygon mirror and guides it to a photosensitive drum, which will be described later.

The semiconductor laser 41 is controlled to be turned on / off in accordance with image information of a document read by the scanner 4 or image information input from an external device, and this laser light passes through the polygon mirror 36 and the optical system 42. The electrostatic latent image is formed on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum by scanning the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum through the photosensitive drum.

The image forming section 6 has a rotatable photosensitive drum 44 as an image carrier disposed substantially in the center of the apparatus main body 10, and the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum is a laser exposure device 40.
And a desired electrostatic latent image is formed. Around the photosensitive drum 44, a charger 45 for charging the drum peripheral surface to a predetermined electric charge, and a toner as a developer for the electrostatic latent image formed on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum to supply a desired image. A developing device 46 that develops at a density, a transfer charger 48 that functions as a transfer unit that transfers a toner image formed on a photosensitive drum to a copy sheet P that is a recording medium that is fed from a sheet cassette described later, and a transfer charger 48. A peeling charger 47 that is integrally formed to separate the copy sheet from the photosensitive drum, and a peeling claw 4 that mechanically peels the copy sheet from the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum.
9, a cleaning device 50 for cleaning the toner remaining on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum, and a static eliminator 51 for discharging the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum are sequentially arranged.

An upper cassette 52, a middle cassette 53, and a lower cassette 54, which can be pulled out from the apparatus body, are arranged in a laminated state at the lower part of the apparatus body 10, respectively.
Copy papers of different sizes are loaded in each cassette. Large capacity feeders 5 beside these cassettes
5, a large-capacity feeder accommodates about 3000 sheets of frequently used copy paper, for example, A4 size copy paper. Further, above the large-capacity feeder 55, a paper feed cassette 57 also serving as a manual feed tray 56 is detachably attached.

In the apparatus main body 10, a conveying path 5 extending from each cassette and the large-capacity feeder 55 through a transfer portion located between the photosensitive drum 44 and the transfer charger 48.
8 is formed, and a fixing device 60 including a fixing lamp 59 is provided at the end of the conveyance path. A discharge port 61 is formed on the side wall of the apparatus main body 10 facing the fixing device 60,
A finisher 62, which will be described later, is provided facing the discharge port.

In the vicinity of the upper cassette 52, the middle cassette 53, the lower cassette 54, the paper feeding cassette 57, and the large-capacity feeder 55, the pickup roller 6 for taking out the sheets one by one from the cassette or the large-capacity feeder.
3 are provided respectively. Further, in the transport path 58,
A large number of paper feed roller pairs 6 that convey the copy paper P taken out by the pickup roller 63 through the conveyance path 58.
4 are provided.

A pair of registration rollers 65 is provided upstream of the photosensitive drum 44 in the transport path 58. The registration roller pair 65 corrects the inclination of the copy paper P taken out, aligns the leading end of the toner image on the photosensitive drum 44 with the leading end of the copy paper P, and has the same speed as the moving speed of the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum. The copy paper P is fed to the transfer unit at a speed. A pre-alignment sensor 66 for detecting the arrival of the copy sheet P is provided in front of the registration roller pair 65, that is, on the side of the feed roller 64.

The copy sheets P taken out one by one from each cassette or the large-capacity feeder 55 by the pickup roller 63 are sent to the registration roller pair 65 by the paper feed roller pair 65. Then, the copy paper P is sent to the transfer section after the leading end is aligned by the registration roller pair 65. In the transfer section, the developer image formed on the photosensitive drum 44, that is, the toner image is transferred to the transfer charger 4
8 is transferred onto the paper P. The copy paper P on which the toner image has been transferred is supplied to the release charger 47 and the release claw 49.
Is peeled off from the peripheral surface of the photoconductor drum 44, and is conveyed to the fixing device 60 via the conveyance belt 67 forming a part of the conveyance path 52. Then, after the developer image is fused and fixed on the copy paper P by the fixing device 60, the copy paper P is discharged to the finisher 62 through the discharge port 61 by the paper feed roller pair 68 and the paper discharge roller pair 69.

Below the conveying path 58, the copy sheet P that has passed through the fixing device 60 is turned over,
5 is provided with an automatic double-sided device 70 for feeding. The automatic double-sided device 70 has a temporary stacking unit 71 that temporarily stacks the copy sheets P, and a reversing path 72 that branches from the transport path 58 and reverses the copy sheets P that have passed through the fixing device 60 and guides them to the temporary stacking unit 71. And a pickup roller 73 for picking up the copy paper sheets P stacked in the temporary stacking unit one by one, and a paper feed roller 75 for feeding the taken-out paper sheets to the registration roller pair 65 through the transport path 74. Also, the transport path 5
A distribution gate 76 that selectively distributes the copy paper P to the discharge port 61 or the reversing path 72 is provided at a branch portion between the reversing path 72 and the reversing path 72.

When performing double-sided copying, the copy sheet P that has passed through the fixing device 60 is guided to the reversing path 72 by the sorting gate 76, temporarily accumulated in the reversed state in the temporary accumulating section 71, and then picked up. The roller 73 and the paper feed roller pair 75 feed the resist roller pair 65 through the conveyance path 74. Then, after the copy paper P is aligned by the registration roller pair 65, the copy paper P is sent to the transfer unit again, and the toner image is transferred to the back surface of the copy paper P. After that, the copy sheet P is discharged to the finisher 62 via the conveyance path 58, the fixing device 60, and the sheet discharge roller 69.

A finisher 62, which functions as a sorter having a stapling function, is provided with a feed roller 78 provided to face the discharge port 61, a guide bar 79 for aligning the copy sheet passing through the feed roller 78 to a staple position, and is aligned. A pressing arm 80 for pressing the copy sheet, a discharge roller 81, and a discharge tray 82 that can be raised and lowered are provided.

When the ejected copy sheets are stapled by a predetermined number and sorted into a predetermined number of copies, the predetermined number of copy sheets aligned at the stapling position is held by the pressing arm 8.
In the state of being pressed by 0, stapling is performed by a stapling unit (not shown). The stapled copy paper is ejected onto the ejection tray 82 by the ejection roller 81 in units. Then, the discharge tray 82
Every time a part of the stapled copy paper is ejected, is moved downward by a height corresponding to the number of copy papers forming a part of the copy paper. As a result, a predetermined number of copy sheets are sequentially stacked on the discharge tray 82.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2, the operation panel 2 provided on the upper surface of the apparatus main body 10 has a liquid crystal display section 83 constituting a touch panel. This liquid crystal display section 83
Displays various messages, and displays a basic copy mode, a memory copy mode setting / cancel key, a mode memory call key, and the like. In addition, the mode memory means a function of storing / calling the set image forming conditions such as the number of copies, the copy magnification, and the paper size.

On the right side of the liquid crystal display portion 83, there are provided an all clear key 84, a ten key 85, a copy start key 86, a clear / stop key 87, a document size key 88, a paper size key 89 and the like. Further, on the left side of the liquid crystal display section 83, a display panel 9 for displaying the setting state of the copying machine and the like.
0, a density key 91, a finisher key 92 for setting / releasing electronic sort modes such as stapling, sorting, and grouping, an interrupt key 93, and the like are provided.

Next, the control circuit of the digital copying machine will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIG. 3, the control system of the digital copying machine is roughly divided into two.
A basic unit 301 which is composed of one block and constitutes a digital copying machine by connecting the scanner 4 and the printer unit, that is, the image forming unit 6 with an image processing unit 314, and image data from the basic unit 301 is received and stored. Then, the stored image data is transferred again to the basic unit 301 to realize memory copying and electronic sorting, and a page memory unit 302 is provided.

The basic unit 301 and the page memory unit 302 are a basic unit system interface for exchanging control data.
316, and a basic part image interface 317 for exchanging image data.

The basic unit 301 includes a scanner 4, a printer 6,
And a basic unit CPU 311 for controlling the image processing unit 314. As shown in FIG. 4, a ROM 102, a RAM 104, an image memory 106, a timer memory 108, a recitation code memory 110, a timer 112, an internal interface 122, an external interface 124, and a printer interface 128 are connected to the main CPU 100 of the basic unit CPU 311. ing. The operation panel 2 is connected to the internal interface 122, and the operation panel 2 is provided with the liquid crystal display section 83, the ten-key pad 85, the job recitation mode button 120, the finisher key 92 and the like. The printer interface 128 is connected to the external device 138.

Here, the main CPU 100 stores and calls the image information. For example, in the case of storing the recitation code and the image information, the image information read by the scanner 4 under the control of the scanner CPU 160 is
The image is stored in the image memory 106 according to an instruction from the main CPU 100. The instruction from the main CPU 100 is given according to the copy mode determined by the input (key input) from the operation panel 2.

As shown in FIG. 5, the scanner CPU 160 of the scanner 4 includes a lamp controller 164 for controlling the illumination lamp 25 and a motor driver for controlling the scanning motor 166 for driving the first and second carriages 27 and 28. 168,
A driving unit 172 for driving and controlling the sensors, switches and solenoids 170 is connected, and an A / D conversion circuit 176 constituting a signal conversion unit 179 for image processing of image information sent from the CCD line image sensor 34. , A resolution conversion circuit 178, a shading correction circuit 176, an image quality improvement circuit 180, and a binarization circuit 182 are connected to control these.

As shown in FIG. 6, in the printer 6,
The printer CPU 190 includes a main motor driver 194 for driving the main motor 192 for driving the photosensitive drum, a drive unit for driving and controlling the sensors, switches and solenoids 196.
198, a fixing lamp controller 202 for controlling the fixing lamp 59
, A charging charger 45, a transfer charger 48, a peeling charger 47, a high-voltage output control unit 212, a static elimination lamp control unit 216 that controls the static elimination lamp 51, a sheet feeding roller 6.
4. A sheet feeding control unit 224 for controlling the sheet feeding motor 222 for driving the pickup roller 63, a semiconductor laser 42, and a modulation circuit 323 for controlling a laser driving circuit 230 for driving the polygon motor 228 are connected and control them.

As shown in FIG. 7, ADFCP of ADF7
The U340 includes a pickup roller 14 and a paper feed roller 1.
5, a motor driver 342 that drives and controls the feed motor 341 that drives the conveyor belt 18, the various sensors such as the empty sensor 9 and the aligning sensor 5, and a drive unit 344 that drives the flapper drive solenoid are connected. Control.

Also, the finisher C of the finisher 62
The PU 346 is connected to a feed roller 78, a pressing arm 80, a motor driver 347 that controls a drive motor 347 that drives the discharge tray 82, and a stapler drive unit 348.

Next, the page memory unit 302 will be described with reference to FIG. The page memory unit 302 is a page memory as a storage means for temporarily storing image data.
323, an address control unit 306 that generates an address of the page memory 323, an image bus 320 that performs data transfer between each device in the page memory unit 302, and a data transfer between the page memory 323 and another device via the image bus 320 A data control unit 307 for controlling data transfer when performing image transfer, an image data I / F 308 for interfacing image data when transferring image data with the basic unit 301 via the basic unit image interface 317, and an image for a device having a different resolution. When transmitting data, convert the image data to the resolution of another device, convert the image data received from a device with a different resolution to the resolution of the printer 6 of the basic unit 301, rotate the binary image data by 90 degrees. A resolution conversion / binary rotation unit 325 that executes processing, compresses and transmits image data such as facsimile transmission or optical disk storage, and records. Compression / decompression unit 324 for decompressing to visualize or compresses the image data input, the image data of the compressed form via a printer 6 for devices which or the image data I / F30
The multi-value rotation memory 309 is connected to the printer 8 and is used when the image data is output from the printer 6 after being rotated by 90 degrees or -90 degrees.

Next, the operation of copying an original by the digital copying machine configured as described above will be described. When copying is started, first, a copy mode is selected by the operation panel 2 as setting means, and various image forming conditions such as the number of copies, copy magnification, single-sided / double-sided copying,
Set sheet insertion etc. The set image forming conditions are
It is stored in the RAM 104 functioning as a storage unit as an initial image forming condition.

As the copy mode, the basic copy mode (first copy mode) in which the image information read by the scanner 4 is directly formed on the copy paper without passing through the page memory unit 320.
Image forming mode), a memory copying mode in which the image data read by the scanner 4 is once stored in the page memory unit, is subjected to desired image processing, and then is read out from the page memory to form an image (second image forming mode). , An electronic sort mode (third image forming mode) in which image information read by the scanner 4 from a plurality of sets of documents is accumulated in the page memory unit and then read out from the page memory unit while sorting to form an image on a copy sheet Is configured to be selectable.

The basic copy mode and the memory copy mode are selected by the selection key of the liquid crystal display unit 83 as a touch panel, and the electronic sort mode is selected by the finisher key 92.

For example, when a document is copied in the basic copy mode using the ADF 7, the document tray 8 of the ADF 7 is used.
When the copy start key 86 of the operation panel 2 is pressed after setting the original on the ADF CPU 340, the ADF CPU 340 determines whether or not the original is set on the original tray based on the signal from the empty sensor 9.

When the original is set, ADFCP
Under the control of U340, the feed motor 341 is driven via the motor driver 342, and the first document is conveyed and positioned at a predetermined position on the document table 12. Subsequently, the lamp control unit 164 of the scanner 4 turns on the illumination lamp 25, and the scanning motor 166 is driven via the motor driver 168.

As a result, the first and second carriages 27 and 28 are moved along the original document on the original table 12, while the light from the illumination lamp 25 is moved during the original table 12.
The original is illuminated through the original and the original is optically scanned.
Then, the reflected light from the document passes through the first to third mirrors 26, 31, 35, and the imaging lens 32 to CC.
It is guided to the D line image sensor 34 and photoelectrically converted by this CCD line image sensor. The converted electric signal is converted into image data by the signal conversion unit 179 and then sent to the image processing unit 314. This image data is
After being subjected to desired processing by the image processing unit 314, it is sent to the laser exposure device 40 of the image forming unit 6.

On the other hand, in the image forming section 6, when the image forming operation is started, the photosensitive drum 44 is rotated at a desired speed, and at the same time, the surface of the photosensitive drum 44 is charged with a desired charge by the charger 45. Are uniformly charged by.

Then, a semiconductor laser 41 of the laser exposure device 40 emits an intensity-modulated laser beam in accordance with the supplied image data and irradiates the surface of the photosensitive drum 44. As a result, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image data is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 44. This electrostatic latent image is
It is developed with the toner supplied from the developing device 46 to form a toner image as a developer image. Further, in synchronization with this, a copy sheet P of a size corresponding to the original is fed to the transfer position, and the toner image on the photosensitive drum 44 is transferred to the copy sheet P by the transfer charger 48.

The copy paper P on which the toner image is transferred is peeled from the photosensitive drum 44 by the peeling charger 47 and the peeling claw 49, and then conveyed to the fixing device 60, where the toner image is fused and fixed on the paper P. To be done. Then, the sheet P to which the toner image is fixed is discharged onto the discharge tray 82 of the finisher 62 through the discharge port 61.

The above document scanning and image forming operations are
The process is repeated until there are no more documents set in the DF7, and the copying of the documents is completed. On the other hand, during execution of various types of copying as described above, the main CPU 100 of the basic unit 301, which functions as a detecting unit and a controlling unit, monitors the setting change of the copying mode, as shown in FIG. The setting change of the copy mode during the execution of copy is caused by the operator performing the following key operation via the operation panel 2.

That is, it is caused by setting and canceling the electronic sort mode by the finisher key 92, setting and canceling the electronic sort mode by the keys on the liquid crystal display unit 83, and calling the mode memory. The mode memory means a function of storing / calling the image forming condition during copying. Further, the setting change of the copy mode also occurs by pressing the all clear key 84 and the interrupt key 93. Interrupt copy is
Since it can be selected only in the basic copy mode, the copy mode setting is changed when an interrupt is made in the memory copy mode and the electronic sort mode.

When the copy mode setting is changed as described above, the main CPU 100 reads out the initial image forming conditions stored in the RAM 104, resets the image forming conditions based on the read initial image forming conditions, and conveys the image during conveyance. If there is a document, eject it. After that, when the copy start key is pressed again, copying is performed in the copy mode after the setting change and the reset image forming condition.

That is, as shown in FIG. 9, the main CPU 100, when detecting the setting change of the copy mode, resets the set number to the initial set value, and ejects the original document if it is being conveyed. . If the page memory is not released, the page memory is released, and if the double-sided copy is set, the double-sided copy is set again. Further, if page addition, page continuous shooting, and sheet insertion are set, these are reset. In addition, copy magnification, paper size, etc. are set again according to the initial setting conditions.

FIGS. 10 and 11 show the case where the electronic sort mode is changed while copying is being executed in the basic copy mode, for example. That is, the copy mode at the start of copying is the basic copy mode, or the original sort mode is set with the finisher key 92 or the liquid crystal display 83 to cancel the electronic sort mode and the memory copy mode. It is assumed that the sheets are set on the original tray 8 of the ADF 7, the number of copies is 10, single-sided / double-sided copying (designating an odd number of originals), and the sheet insertion function are set, and then the copy start key 86 is pressed to start copying.

When setting the sheet insertion function,
For example, the last page (the number of pages of the original to be copied) is 15, and the insertion page (the page in which you want to insert the sheet) is 1.
When set as 5, 10, and 1, the last page is counted down from 15 every time copying is performed, and when the number matches the insertion page, copying is performed on the sheet paper set in advance.

During copying of the second original, the operator notices that he is not copying in the electronic sort mode, and presses the clear / stop key 87 to interrupt copying, and the number of copies at that time is 5. It was. After that, when the electronic sort mode is selected by the finisher key 92, the main CPU 100 detects the mode change (basic copy-electronic sort) and performs the following processing.

The CPU 100 first resets the numeral 5 during the countdown to the value 10 which is the initial setting value and displays it on the liquid crystal display unit 83. Further, if there is a document being conveyed by the ADF 7, the document is discharged onto the paper discharge unit 24 on the upper surface of the ADF, and "reset document" is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 83 of the operation panel 2. Also, the CPU 100
It is determined whether or not the page memory is released or whether the double-sided copy, the page number addition, the page continuous shooting, the sheet insertion function, and the like are set, and if they are set, these are reset. In addition, copy magnification, paper size, etc. are set again according to the initial setting conditions. In this example, the single-sided / double-sided designation is returned to the initial state, and the sheet insertion final page 13 during the countdown is returned to the initial value 15 designated by the operator.

Subsequently, the operator operates the paper discharge unit 2 of the ADF 7.
When the copy start key 86 on the operation panel 2 is pressed after returning the originals discharged to the No. 4 to the original tray 8, copying is performed under the same image forming conditions and the electronic sort mode as the image forming conditions initially set by the operator. The operation is restarted.

FIGS. 12 and 13 show a case where the electronic sort mode is changed while copying is being executed in the electronic sort mode. That is, when the copy mode at the start of copying is the electronic sort mode, or the electronic sort mode is set by the finisher key 92 or the liquid crystal display unit 83, the number of copies is 10, page continuous shooting, and page number addition function. After inputting the value of the last page 20, the originals are placed side by side on the original table 12 and the copy start key 86 is pressed to start copying.

In setting the page number addition function, the number of pages of the document to be copied is input as the final page. For example, when the final page is 20, the page number is at a predetermined position on the paper −20, −19. -, -18- are sequentially subtracted and printed.

Then, while the second original document (right page) placed on the original document table 12 is being copied, the operator notices that he is copying in the electronic sort mode, and presses the clear / stop key 87. Then, the copying is interrupted, and the registered number at that time is 5. After that, when the electronic sort mode is canceled by the finisher key 92 and the basic copy mode is selected, the main CPU 100 detects the mode change (electronic sort-basic copy) and performs the following processing.

The CPU 100 first resets the numeral 5 during the countdown to the value 10 which is the initial setting value and displays it on the liquid crystal display unit 83. In addition, the CPU 100 determines whether the page memory is released, whether double-sided copying, page number addition, continuous page copying, sheet insertion function, etc. are set. Set.
In addition, copy magnification, paper size, etc. are set again according to the initial setting conditions. In this example, the page continuous shooting function is returned to the initial state, that is, the state of copying from the left page, and the page memory is released. Also, the page number added to the copy paper is returned from 19 to 20 which is the initial setting value. If necessary, the operator places the original on the original table 1
2. Put it back on top.

After that, when the operator depresses the copy start key 86 of the operation panel 2, the copying operation is restarted under the same image forming condition and the basic copying mode as the image forming condition initially set by the operator.

According to the digital copying machine configured as described above, when the copy mode is changed while copying is being performed in a certain copy mode, the initial image forming conditions are automatically reset. Then, by restarting the copying operation, copying is performed in the copying mode after the setting change and the initial image forming conditions.

Therefore, when the copy mode is changed, it is not necessary to input various image forming conditions again, the copy mode can be easily changed in a short time, and an input error or the like can be prevented. . Further, even if the copy mode is changed on the way, the copy result intended by the operator can be surely obtained, the waste of copy paper due to a mistaken copy can be prevented, and it is not necessary to restart copying from the beginning. It is possible to improve the operability and shorten the operation time.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, but can be variously modified within the scope of the present invention. For example, the image reading / forming apparatus according to the present invention is not limited to a digital copying machine, and may be applied to other image forming apparatuses such as a laser printer.

[0075]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, when the operation mode setting is changed during image formation,
Since the initial image forming conditions before the change are automatically reset and the image formation is started with the initial image forming condition and the changed operation mode, the operation mode setting can be changed smoothly and in a short time. It is possible to provide an image forming apparatus and an image forming method that can be performed and are excellent in operability.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a digital copying machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an operation panel of the digital copying machine.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram schematically showing a configuration of a control system of the digital copying machine.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a basic part of the control system.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a scanner of the control system.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a printer unit of the control system.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an ADF and a finisher of the control system.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a copy mode change monitoring process of the digital copying machine.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an image forming condition changing process when changing the copy mode of the digital copying machine.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the operation of the digital copying machine in the basic copying mode.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an image forming condition changing process when changing from the basic copy mode to the electronic sort mode.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the operation of the digital copying machine in the electronic sort mode.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing an image forming condition changing process when changing from the electronic sort mode to the basic copy mode.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 ... Operation panel 4 ... Scanner 5 ... Document placing table 6 ... Image forming section 7 ... ADF 44 ... Photosensitive drum 62 ... Finisher 83 ... Liquid crystal display section 84 ... All clear key 85 ... Numeric keypad 86 ... Copy start key 87 ... Clear / Stop key 92 ... Finisher key 100 ... Main CPU 104 ... RAM 160 ... Scanner CPU 190 ... Printer CPU 301 ... Basic section 302 ... Page memory section 311 ... Basic section CPU 314 ... Image processing section

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A reading unit for reading image information of a document, an image forming condition for defining a processing condition of the image information, and an image forming mode for defining an output condition of the image information on a recording medium according to the image forming condition are set. Setting means, storage means for storing the set initial image forming conditions, and an image corresponding to the image information read by the reading means based on the set image forming conditions and image forming mode. An image forming means for forming on the medium; a detecting means for detecting a setting change of the image forming mode; and a detecting means for detecting the setting change of the image forming mode during image formation by the image forming means,
An image forming apparatus comprising: a control unit that restarts image formation according to an initial image forming condition stored in the storage unit and an image forming mode whose setting is changed. 2. A reading unit for reading image information of an original, an information storage unit for accumulating the image information read by the reading unit, and an image information of the original output every time the original is read by the reading unit. An image formation including a first image forming mode in which the image information is read by the reading unit and a second image forming mode in which the image information is read out from the information storing unit and then output. A setting means for setting a mode and an arbitrary image forming condition, a condition storing means for storing the set initial image forming condition, and the reading based on the set image forming condition and the image forming mode. Image forming means for forming an image on a recording medium according to the image information read by the means, and detecting a setting change of the image forming mode When the setting change of the image forming mode between the first and second image forming modes is detected by the detecting unit during the image formation by the detecting unit and the image forming unit, it is stored in the condition storing unit. An image forming apparatus comprising: a control unit that restarts image formation according to an initial image forming condition and an image forming mode whose setting is changed. 3. A reading unit for reading image information of an original, an information storage unit for accumulating the image information read by the reading unit, and image information of the original output every time the original is read by the reading unit. A first image forming mode, a second image forming mode in which all image information read by the reading unit is accumulated in the storage unit, and then image information is sequentially output, and the reading unit reads the image information. After storing all the image information in the storage means,
Setting means for setting an image forming mode including a third image forming mode for outputting image information while sorting and arbitrary image forming conditions, and condition storing means for storing the set initial image forming conditions. And an image forming unit that forms an image according to the image information read by the reading unit on a recording medium based on the set image forming condition and image forming mode, and the third image forming mode is set. When the recording medium is formed, the recording medium on which the image is formed by the image forming unit is divided and output, the detecting unit that detects the setting change of the image forming mode, and the detection is performed during the image formation by the image forming unit. When the setting change of the image forming mode between the first and second image forming modes is detected by the means, the initial image stored in the condition storing means is detected. An image forming apparatus comprising resuming control means the image formed by the forming conditions and settings modified image forming mode, further comprising: a. 4. A reading means for reading image information of an original, a setting means for selectively setting one of a plurality of copy modes, an image forming condition including a number of copies of the original and a plurality of copy functions, and A storage unit that stores the set initial image forming condition, and an image forming unit that forms an image according to the image information read by the reading unit on a recording medium based on the set image forming condition and image forming mode. Means, a detecting means for detecting a change in the setting of the copy mode, and a storage means for storing the number of copies and the copy function when the detecting means detects a change in the copy mode setting during image formation by the image forming means. An image forming apparatus comprising: a control unit that restores the initial value stored in. 5. A reading unit for reading image information of a document, a document feeding unit for sequentially feeding the loaded documents to the reading unit, a display unit and a plurality of input keys, and one of a plurality of copy modes, Setting means for selectively setting the number of copies of the document and image forming conditions including a plurality of copying functions, storage means for storing the set initial image forming conditions, and the set image forming conditions and An image forming means for forming an image on a recording medium according to the image information read by the reading means based on the image forming mode, a detecting means for detecting a setting change of the copy mode by the setting means, and the image forming means. When the change of the copy mode is detected by the detecting means during the image formation by the image forming means, the number of copies and the copying function are stored in the storing means. An image forming apparatus comprising: a control unit that restores the initial value stored in the display unit and displays the initial value on the display unit of the setting unit. 6. A step of setting an input image forming condition and an image forming mode, a step of storing the set initial image forming condition, a step of reading image information of a document, and a reading step set above. A step of forming an image on the recording medium according to the read image information based on the image forming condition and the image forming mode; a step of detecting a setting change of the image forming mode; and an image forming step during the image forming step. When a setting change of the mode is detected, the stored initial image forming condition is reset, and the image forming is restarted based on the initial image forming condition and the changed image forming mode. An image forming method comprising: