JPH1138835A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain an image forming device which speedily processes the output of required number of prints on printing paper while minimizing the wasteful consumption of printing paper. SOLUTION: The device is provided with a testing-print output means (step S4) which is selectively instructed in a sort processing in which only one print is outputted by an image printing part, based on each image data outputted by an image reading part and stored in a storage part, and a printing resumption means (step S7) which resumes the output of remaining prints stopped by the testing-print output means (step S4). Therefore, at the stage where only the one print is outputted, the printed paper is checked with eyes whether it has defects or not. When it has no defects, the output of the remaining prints is resumed, and the output of the required number of prints on printing paper is speedily processed by minimizing the wasteful consumption of printing paper.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a digital copying machine having a sorting function using a storage unit.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, digital copying machines have been widely used as image forming apparatuses which read a document image and print out a copied image at the same time. The digital copying machine includes a storage unit that stores image data obtained by reading a document, and forms an identical image on a plurality of printing sheets based on the image data stored in the storage unit. It is possible and high speed is realized.

Further, the digital copying machine is capable of freely changing the order of the image data stored in the storage unit and outputting the image data.

[0004]

In such a digital copying machine, for example, when a plurality of originals are printed for a large number of copies in the sort processing, the processing is continuously continued until the printing output of a predetermined number of sheets is completed. You. However, there are cases where the reading process is started without the operator noticing a document having a defect, such as a wrong document or a document with the wrong vertical direction or the wrong side. In this case, the defective document is read as it is, and a copy image of the defective document is printed out over a large number of copies. If a defect of the document is noticed in the middle of the printout, the printout is stopped, all the image data stored in the storage unit are cleared, and the reading process of the entire document must be performed again from the beginning. No. In any case, useless copy images are printed on a plurality of printing papers, resulting in waste. In particular, in a high-speed digital copier, the interval between the time when a copy image is printed on the previous print sheet and the time when the copy image is printed on the next print sheet is short. There is a problem that a large amount is generated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of promptly processing print output on print paper of a desired number of copies while minimizing wasteful use of print paper. .

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of performing efficient re-scanning when a defect of a document is confirmed.

[0007]

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
An input operation unit that receives inputs for various processes including a sort process, an image reading unit that scans a document and outputs the image data, and a storage unit that stores image data output by the image reading unit. An image reading unit that prints out on printing paper based on the image data stored in the storage unit; Test print output means for printing and outputting only one copy in the image printing section based on each image data output by the image storage section and stored in the storage section, and selectively output by the input operation section after print output by the test print output means And print restart means for restarting print output for the remaining number of copies.

Therefore, only one copy is printed out on a print sheet based on each image data stored in the storage unit by the test print output unit selectively declared at the time of the sorting process by the input operation unit. Print output is stopped later. As a result, the defect of the document is confirmed by visually observing the printing paper on which only one copy has been printed out. If there is no failure, the print output for the remaining number of copies stopped by the test print output unit is restarted by the print restart unit. As a result, a desired number of copies can be printed out quickly on a print sheet without re-scanning. Further, when there is a problem, wasteful consumption of printing paper is minimized.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein the image data stored in the storage section is changed to another image data newly read and scanned by the image reading section. Means are further provided.

[0010] Therefore, when the defect of the document is confirmed by visual inspection of the printing paper on which only one copy has been printed out by the test print output means, the image data stored in the storage unit of the document in which the defect has occurred is stored. The data replacement unit changes the image data to image data obtained by reading and scanning an appropriate document by the image reading unit. As a result, a desired number of copies can be efficiently printed out on printing paper only by appropriately reading and scanning only the document in which a defect has occurred.

[0011]

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the present invention.
This will be described with reference to FIG. 1 is an example in which the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment is applied to a digital copying machine 1.
FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional front view showing the internal structure of the digital copying machine 1. As shown in FIG.
Has an image reading unit 2 and an image printing unit 3.

The image reading unit 2 includes a contact glass 4
The original (not shown) placed above is optically read by the scanning optical system 5. The scanning optical system 5 includes a first scanning unit 6 movably supported at a position facing the contact glass 4, and a second scanning unit 7 movably supported at a position facing the first scanning unit 6. A CCD (Charge Coupled Device) disposed at a position facing the second scanning unit 7 via the imaging lens 8.
e) It is composed of 9 and the like.

The image printing section 3 converts the image data read and output by the image reading section 2 into printing paper (not shown).
Is to be printed out. The image printing unit 3 is provided with an electrophotographic mechanism 10. This electrophotographic mechanism 1
0 is provided with a drum-shaped photoreceptor 11, and a charger 12 around the photoreceptor 11 according to an electrophotographic process.
Process members and means such as a writing unit 13, a developing device 14, a transfer device 15, and a toner cleaner 16 are sequentially arranged, and the photosensitive member 11 is arranged along a paper transport path 17.
And a fixing device 18. Here, at a paper transport upstream position communicating with the paper transport path 17, a manual feed tray 19 for supplying print paper, or a plurality of print papers having different sizes and different set directions are separately stored and supplied to the image printing unit 3. Paper feed mechanism 20 is provided. Further, a double-sided paper feeding unit 22 including a double-sided tray 21 is provided above these paper feeding mechanisms 20 so as to communicate the paper re-feeding side with the paper transport path 17. Further, a paper discharge mechanism 23 is provided at a downstream position of the paper transport communicating with the paper transport path 17. Further, downstream of the paper discharge mechanism 23, a post-processing unit 24 is provided.

An automatic document feeder (ADF) 25 for automatically transporting a document to the image reading section 2 is mounted on the upper part of the digital copying machine 1. An operation panel P (see FIG. 2) as an operation unit is provided.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a state where an initial screen is displayed on the operation panel P. As shown in FIG. 2, the operation panel P includes a print key 26 for declaring the start of copying, a numeric keypad 27 for inputting a numerical value, a clear stop key 28 for declaring data initialization and copying stop, and a declaration of a change in operation mode. In addition to having input keys such as a mode clear key 29, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Dis
play) The touch panel 30 is provided. The LCD touch panel 30 has an input operation unit 32 including a function key 31 that appears as appropriate for each screen, and a display unit 33 that displays a message indicating the number of output units, device status, and the like. Here, a sort key 31a is prepared as one of the function keys 31. The LCD touch panel 30 has the function keys 31
By pressing, a screen set for each function key 31 is displayed, and the details of the function can be specified graphically.

Next, the electrical connection of each part built in the digital copying machine 1 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the digital copying machine 1 has a built-in main controller 34 for controlling the entire digital copying machine. A main controller 34 for connecting a CPU, ROM, RAM, etc. (not shown) includes operation panels P, A
A DF 25, an IPU (image processing unit (image processing unit)) 35, and the like are connected by a bus. These operation panel P, ADF 25 and IPU 35,
The main controller 34 exchanges machine status, operation commands, and the like as necessary. Further, a main motor 36 is connected to the main controller 34, and the rotation of the main motor 36 is directly or via a clutch (not shown), the photosensitive member 11, the developing device 14, the transfer device 15, the fixing device 18, paper feed mechanism 20,
Each part is driven by transmitting the data to the double-sided paper feeding unit 22, the paper discharging mechanism 23, the post-processing unit 24, and the like.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the electrical connection of each part built in the IPU 35. The IPU 35 is provided with a CPU 37 for controlling the image data of the image reading unit 2 and the image printing unit 3 described above. This CP
U37 has a ROM 39 storing a control program and the like via a bus line 38 such as an address bus and a data bus.
And I / O port 41 for storing RAM and various data
Are connected, and an image memory controller 42 is connected. This image memory controller 42 includes:
An image memory 43 as a storage unit for storing image data is connected. Here, the CPU 37 executes writing of data into the image memory 43 and reading of data from the image memory 43 via the image memory controller 42.

Next, the electrical connection of each part built in the operation panel P will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 5, the LCD touch panel 30 has an EL (Electro
Luminescence) backlight (not shown), dot matrix LCD module 44 and switch plate 45
Are sequentially laminated. These LCD module 44, switch plate 45, input keys 26 to
The LCD controller 46 is connected to the LCD controller 29 via a bus. A ROM 47 and a RAM 48 are connected to the LCD controller 46 via a bus. In addition, the LCD
An address latch 49 is bus-connected to the controller 46, and the address latch 49 and the LCD controller 46 are bus-connected to the CPU 50. A communication driver 51 is connected to the CPU 50 via a bus, and controls communication of various commands with the outside. Further, an address decoder 52 is connected to the address latch 49 via a bus.
A bus is connected to the D controller 46 and the ROM 53, and a bus is connected to the CPU 50 via a system reset 54.

With such a configuration, basically, a document scanned and scanned mechanically at a speed ratio of 2: 1 so that the optical path length between the first scanning unit 6 and the second scanning unit 7 does not change. The image is reduced and formed on the CCD 9 via the imaging lens 8 and is output as image data as an electric signal by a photoelectric conversion process. This image data is transmitted to the image memory controller 42 and then written into the image memory 43 through a predetermined process. Since the image memory 43 stores a large amount of image data at a time, for example, it has a function of outputting a desired number of copies of the image data stored in the image memory 43 in page order as a sorting function. When an image is output by this sorting function, the image data in the image memory 43 is subjected to predetermined processing in the image memory controller 42, and then the writing unit 1 of the image printing unit 3 is processed.
3 is output.

The printing paper selectively fed from the manual tray 19, the plurality of paper feeding mechanisms 20 and the double-sided tray 21 is transported to the transfer device 15 through the paper transport path 17. On the other hand, the writing unit 13
Is subjected to optical writing to form an electrostatic latent image, and the developing device 1
4, the toner image is formed. The printing paper conveyed to the position of the transfer device 15 is conveyed at the same speed as the photoconductor 11 while synchronizing with the tip of the toner image, and receives the transfer of the toner image in the transfer device 15. After the transfer, the printing paper is fixed by the fixing device 18 and then discharged by driving the paper discharge mechanism 23. The discharged printing paper is discharged in the post-processing unit 24 in a format according to a predetermined processing function. In addition, after the front side copy at the time of the two-sided copy, the printing paper is temporarily discharged to the two-sided paper feeding unit 22 and re-fed for the back side copy.

Further, the digital copying machine 1 of the present embodiment
Executes processes other than the basic operation in various processing modes by inputting various keys on the operation panel P. Here, the processing in various processing modes other than the sort processing mode is the same as the processing performed by the conventional digital copying machine 1, and therefore the description is omitted. Next, the flow of processing in the sort processing mode will be described below.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the sorting process. This sort processing is a processing mode when the sort key 31a of the LCD touch panel 30 is pressed.
First, initial settings such as clearing of the image memory 43 are made, and the number of output copies is set by pressing the ten key 27. At this time, the display on the LCD touch panel 30 of the operation panel P is changed to a confirmation screen as to whether or not to use the sort confirmation mode (step S1). Here, FIG. 7 is a plan view showing a state where the use confirmation screen of the sort confirmation mode is displayed on the operation panel P. As shown in FIG.
On the display unit 33 of the LCD touch panel 30, a message “Do you want to use the sort confirmation mode?” Is displayed. Further, the input operation unit 32 includes a function key 31
YES key 31b and NO key 31c are displayed. Here, the user presses the YES key 31b when using the sort confirmation mode, and presses the NO key 31c when not using the sort confirmation mode.

When the use of the sort confirmation mode is not selected (N in step S1), the copy operation of the digital copying machine 1 is started by pressing the print key 26 on the operation panel P, and the image reading section 2 performs all the originals. The image data of the read image is written to the image memory 43. Next, the image data in the image memory 43 is output to the writing unit 13 of the image printing unit 3, a predetermined number of copies are printed out, and the copies are arranged one by one in the page order (step S2), and the sorting process ends.

When the use of the sort confirmation mode is selected (Y in step S1), the copy operation of the digital copying machine 1 is started by pressing the print key 26 on the operation panel P, and all the originals are read in the image reading section 2. Is written in the image memory 43 (step S3). Next, the image data of the image memory 43 for only one copy is output to the writing unit 13 of the image printing unit 3, and only one copy is printed out (step S4). By the processing in step S4, the function of the test print output unit is executed.

When only one copy is printed out, LC
The display on the D touch panel 30 changes again (step S
5). FIG. 8 is a plan view showing a state where the image confirmation screen is displayed on the operation panel P. As shown in FIG. 8, a message “Is the image OK?” Is displayed on the display unit 33. Further, the input operation unit 32 displays YES
A key 31d and a NO key 31e are displayed. When this screen is displayed, it is visually checked by the operator whether there is a defect in the copy output in step S4, and the process in step S6 is started based on the result. The problem here is that the orientation of the original is wrong,
This is the case when the front and back of the manuscript are wrong.

In step S6, if there is no defect in the copy as a result of the check, the YES key 31d is pressed, and
If there is a problem in copying, the NO key 31c is pressed.

When there is no defect in the copy (step S6)
(Y), in step S7, print output of copies for the remaining number of output copies is successively executed, and the pages are aligned one by one in the page order. By the processing in step S7, the function of the print resuming unit is executed.

When there is a defect in the copy (step S6)
N) executes the process of step S3 again.

Here, at the time of sorting, the operation panel P
The test print output means selectively declared by the input operation in (1) outputs only one copy of each copy based on each image data stored in the image memory 43, and prints out the remaining copies. Is stopped, it is possible to visually check a copy of which only one copy has been printed out, and to confirm a defect of the document.
This minimizes waste of printing paper. If there is no defect in the original, the print output for the remaining number of copies stopped by the test print output unit is restarted by the print restart unit selectively declared by the input operation on the operation panel P. A desired number of copies can be output quickly without waste.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
A description will be given based on FIG. The same parts as those described in the above embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted. In the above-described embodiment, when there is a defect in the copy output only for one copy, all the image data in the image memory 43 is cleared and all the originals are read again. Partial correction is possible without clearing all the 43 image data.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a sorting process according to the present embodiment. Here, steps T1 to T
The processing of No. 6 is not different from the processing of steps S1 to S6 of FIG. 6 described in the above embodiment.

When there is a defect in the copy (step T6)
In N), the display on the LCD touch panel 30 changes based on the pressing of the NO key 31e. FIG. 10 is a plan view showing a state where the image correction screen is displayed on the operation panel P. As shown in FIG. 10, the display unit 33 displays a message “Correction of NG image page completed?”. Further, the input operation unit 32 displays a YES key 31f and a NO key 31g. When this screen is displayed, a partial correction is performed on the defective portion of the copy output in step T4. For example, if there is a defect on the third page and the fifth page, by pressing “3” of the ten key 27, “3 page” is displayed on the designated page display section 33a of the display section 33, and the NG image page is displayed. It is specified (step T7). Next, after the third page document is set, the copy operation of the digital copying machine 1 is started by pressing the print key 26, and the read image data of the third page document is stored in the image memory 4.
The image data of the document on the third page in No. 3 is rewritten (step T8). In step T9, since the fifth page has not been corrected, the NO key 31g
Is pressed to repeat the processing of steps T7 to T8 for the fifth page. When the processing of the failure on the fifth page is completed, only one copy is printed out by pressing the YES key 31f, and thereafter, the process proceeds to step T10. The functions of the data replacement means are executed by the processing of steps T6 to T9.

When the correction of the defect is completed (step T
9) and when there is no defect in the copy (step T6)
(Y), in step T10, print output of copies for the remaining number of output copies is successively executed, and part of the copies is arranged in page order. By the processing in step T10, the function of the print resuming unit is executed.

Here, when the test print output means confirms the defect of the document, the image data stored in the image memory 43 of the document having the defect can be obtained by reading and scanning an appropriate document. Since the image data is changed to the image data, the print output of the desired number of copies can be executed without waste by simply re-scanning only the original having the defect. As a result, of the image data of the original which has been read and scanned earlier, those having no problem are used as they are, and the efficient read scanning is executed again.

[0035]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, based on each image data output by the image reading section and stored in the storage section, test print output means for printing and outputting only one copy in the image printing section; A print resuming unit for resuming the print output for the remaining number of copies stopped by the test print output unit is provided. Can be confirmed. If there is no problem in the finish of the printing paper on which only one copy has been printed out, the printing restart for the remaining number of copies can be resumed by the printing resume means, and the printing output on the printing paper for the desired number of printing copies can be performed. With regard to (1), wasteful consumption of printing paper can be minimized and processing can be performed quickly.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, the image data stored in the storage unit is changed to another image data newly read and scanned by the image reading unit. Since a data replacement unit for printing out is further provided, if a defect is confirmed in some of the originals, the image data of the document in which the defect is confirmed by the data replacement unit is converted into an appropriate document by the image reading unit. Is changed to image data obtained by reading and scanning, and among the image data of the originals which have been read and scanned earlier, those having no problem can be used as they are, thereby efficiently reducing the re-scanning to the minimum necessary. be able to.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional front view showing an internal structure of a digital copying machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a state where an initial screen is displayed on an operation panel.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an electrical connection of each unit built in the digital copying machine.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an electrical connection of each unit built in the IPU.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an electrical connection of each unit built in the operation panel.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a sorting process.

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing a state where a use confirmation screen in a sort confirmation mode is displayed on the operation panel.

FIG. 8 is a plan view showing a state where an image confirmation screen is displayed on the operation panel.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a sorting process according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a plan view showing a state where an image correction screen is displayed on the operation panel.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 Image reading unit 3 Image printing unit 43 Storage unit P Input operation unit Step S4, T4 Test print output unit Step S7, T10 Printing restart unit Step T6 to T9 Data replacement unit

Claims (2)

[Claims] An input operation unit for receiving an input for various processes including a sort process, an image reading unit for reading and scanning a document and outputting the image data as image data, and storing the image data output by the image reading unit. In an image forming apparatus having a storage unit and an image printing unit that prints out and prints on printing paper based on image data stored in the storage unit, the image forming apparatus selectively declares at the time of a sorting process based on input from the input operation unit. A test print output unit that prints out only one copy in the image printing unit based on each image data output by the image reading unit and stored in the storage unit; and after the print output by the test print output unit, A print resuming unit that is selectively declared by an input at the input operation unit and resumes print output for the remaining number of copies. Apparatus. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a data replacement unit for changing the image data stored in the storage unit to another image data newly read and scanned by the image reading unit. apparatus.