JPS621359A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To eliminate an unnecessary copying time and an unnecessary power consumption by scanning a picture information reading unit only in the copy range corresponding to a preliminarily determined original size. CONSTITUTION:The second carriage 11 slided on the second rail 10 arranged in the subscanning direction X is set on the first carriage 9 slided along the first guide rail 8 arranged in the main scanning direction Y, and a picture information reading unit 20 is set on the carriage 11. The first scale 31 is set on the carriage 9, and the second scale 32 is set on the carriage 11, and they limit the moving range in the main scanning direction Y and the subscanning direction X. When an original size is designated at the original read time, the moving range is limited by scales 31 and 32, and the unit 20 is scanned in the range surrounded with an original scale 4 and scales 31 and 32.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Technical Field of the Invention] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus used as a printer with a scanner.

[Technical background of the invention and its problems]

In general, this type of image forming apparatus scans a document placed on a document table with an image information reading unit (hereinafter referred to as a scanner unit) consisting of a photo-imaging element and an image sensor to obtain image information. Based on the read image information, it is recorded in the printer section.For example, a thermal head is made to generate heat to transfer the ink from the ink cancer to the binding paper of the recording material to form an image. It has become.

Conventional methods for reading image information include reading means using a line sensor and reading means using a serial sensor. In the case of a line sensor, as shown in FIG. For the range (AXB), line sensor L-8K' scans the entire width in the sub-scanning direction (X direction) in the main scanning direction (Y direction) and reads the length B in the Y direction. In this case, as shown in Fig. 1θ, the entire reading range (AXB) on the original table is
, first scan the serial sensor S-8 once or multiple times in the X direction with the width of C to read the length of A, then move the serial sensor S-8 in the Y direction by the width of C. The entire length of JB is read by repeating the same scanning operation n times until B=nC.

However, in the conventional image information reading means described above, especially those using a serial sensor, the entire reading area on the document table is scanned to form an image on the printer unit. Therefore, full scanning is performed even if the document size is smaller than the maximum copying range, which is inefficient in copying time and wastes power consumption. There was a problem with heavy wear and tear.

[Purpose of the invention]

The present invention has been made under the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide an image forming apparatus that can eliminate wasted copying time and power consumption.

[Summary of the Invention] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention moves an image information reading unit consisting of a photo-imaging element and an n-bit image sensor in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction via a carriage means. and after scanning in the sub-scanning direction with the image size information reading unit, it is possible to scan the maximum copying range indicated by the original scale on the original table by moving in the main scanning direction at every n-bit pitch. In the image forming apparatus, the image information reading unit is configured to be capable of scanning only a designated copying range corresponding to a predetermined original size, thereby allowing only a designated scanning range corresponding to the size of the original to be copied. This makes it possible to scan

[Embodiments of the invention]

The present invention will be described below with reference to an embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 8.

FIG. 1 shows the external configuration of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. In the figure, 1 is the main body of the apparatus, and the upper part is made of transparent FIA glass into which a document G can be held by a document valve cover 2 that can be opened and closed. A copying position corresponding to a predetermined original size, such as A4 or B5, is provided on one side of the document mounting table 3 in the main scanning direction (Y direction). A document scale 4 for positioning and displaying is arranged along the sub-scanning direction (X direction).
In the figure, reference numeral 5 denotes a paper discharge tray that receives paper P, which is a recording material printed out from a printer section, which will be described later, and 6 is an operation panel, which will be described later, which will be an operation section.

2 and 3 schematically show the moving mechanism 1 of the image information reading device for reading the image of the document G placed on the document table 3 of the device main body 1, in the main scanning direction Y. a first carriage 9 that slides along a first guide rail 8 that is disposed in the sub-scanning direction X, a second carriage that slides along the idle rail 10 that is disposed in the sub-scanning direction; ) 11, the first carriage, and the first drive motor 1.
A timing belt 16 is formed by passing a timing belt 16 through a pair of left and right googly belts 14 and 15 having the same number of teeth at both ends of a shaft shaft 13 provided coaxially with the shaft shaft 13 to maintain a constant circumferential speed. The second carry, Ji 11, is connected to one of the first carries, and moves linearly and intermittently in parallel in the main scanning direction Y.
A second drive motor z8 fixed to the carriage 9 moves the second carriage 1 linearly in the sub-scanning direction X via a tie ζ blow belt 19t.
An image information reading unit 20 is installed at .

This image information reading unit y) 2o includes a light source 21, a lens 22 which is an optical imaging element that forms a reflected image of the document surface on the document table 3 illuminated by the light source 21,
It is composed of an image sensor 23 such as an n-bit COD or α-81 that transmits a reflected image formed by this lens 22 to a control system (not shown), and a sensor substrate 24 that supports this image sensor 23. 1st and 2nd
The main scanning direction Y and the sub-scanning direction
It is now possible to move to

A first scale 31 is installed on the first carriage 9, and this first scale 31 is
The image information reading unit is read by moving the first carrier 9 in the main scanning direction Y.

A second scale 32 is installed on the second carriage 11, and the second scale 32 moves the second carriage 11 in the sub-scanning direction X. the image information reading unit)
20 movement ranges X can be regulated.

FIG. 4 shows the operation panel 6 which is the operation section mentioned above.
6b and 6C are density adjustment keys, 6d and 6. are paper feed keys for the printer section which will be described later, 6f is a document size designation key, and by pressing this designation key 6f, the original Size display rung 6g ~ 6j
illuminates in a cyclical manner to specify the document size, and it is possible to scan only the movement range according to the document size specified by the y scale 31 and the x scale 32 on the first and second carriages 9.11. I have to.

That is, to explain the present invention in detail, when the size of the original G to be copied is specified, for example B5 size, by pressing the original size designation key 6f of the operation panel 6 shown in FIG. The movement range of the first and second carriages 9 and 11 is regulated, and the copy range S is designated as B5 size. 0, which is the range (xXy) surrounded by Copy scanning is performed from the side of the document scale 4, first scanning in the sub-scanning direction X with a predetermined width C, then main scanning.

A similar scan is performed in the sub-scanning direction X by moving by a length C in the direction Y, and such scanning is repeated up to a position of length y in the main scanning direction Y. Once the scan is complete, it will return to its original position. As a result, as shown in FIG.
It is printed out only in the copy range S0 that corresponds to the B5 size above.

7 and 8 show the mechanism of the printer section incorporated in the image forming apparatus of the present invention. In the figures, 41 is a platen that wraps the paper P and conveys it to the paper output tray 5 side, and a timing belt 42 and is driven by a platen drive motor 43, and a pair of aligning rollers 44 for feeding the paper P to the grating 41 is installed on the paper feed port side. The paper P fed by the pair of aligning rollers 44 is transferred to the platen 41.
The recording head, for example, the thermal head 4, is aligned at the contact point of the alignment roller 45, which presses against the
6, the sheet is held by a paper holder 47 to prevent it from floating up, and is further discharged to a paper discharge tray 5 by a paper discharge roller 48. Also,
The thermal head 46 is usually pressed against the platen 41 with a constant pressure by a spring 49, and its release is performed by a magnet 51 that attracts the head support lever 50.
This is done by applying a voltage to the platen 41 to separate it from the platen 41. Furthermore, in the figure, 52 is a carrier for moving the thermal head 46, which is movable in parallel to the axial direction of the platen 41 via guide rails 53 and 54, and is driven by a frame (not shown). A drive motor 5 for the carriage and the carriage fixed to the etc.
5 through timing bets, etc. and,
On the carrier 52, a thermal head 46 and a holder 56 are installed.
An in-clean R is wound and housed in the interior of the image information reading unit 6, and this in-clean R is fixed to the carrier and the jig 52, or is driven by the gun motor 57, and is connected to the image information reading unit and the toner. An image can be transferred onto paper P according to image information from 20.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the printer section is of a thermal transfer type, but in this case, although it is possible to print in a round trip, it is necessary to fast forward the printer. Due to the complexity of the operation, normally, in the case of reciprocating printing, it is sufficient to remove the ink cartridge and print directly onto the thermal paper using the thermal head, and it can be used for both thermal transfer and thermal printing. In order to reduce the cost and size of the device, a heat-sensitive method that does not require an ink cartridge may be used.

In addition, it goes without saying that the present invention can be modified in various ways without departing from the gist of the present invention.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, in the present invention, each of the carrying and moving means for moving an image information reading unit in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction has a scale whose movement range can be specified arbitrarily according to the document size. It has a configuration in which position specifying means are provided, and only the range surrounded by the movement range specified by these position specifying means and the document scale on the document table can be scanned and printed out by the printer section. Since it is possible to scan only the necessary copying area according to a predetermined document size, it is possible to eliminate the wasted copying time and reduce power consumption such as batteries. It is something that you have.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 is an external perspective view showing an embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing a moving mechanism of an image information reading unit 9, and FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view showing an image information reading unit 9.
), FIG. 4 is a plan view of the main part of the operation panel, and FIGS. 5 and 6 are explanatory diagrams showing the scanning state and printout state of the image information reading unit. , wc7 and 8 are schematic explanatory diagrams of the main parts of the printer section, FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing the state of image information reading by a conventional line sensor, and FIG. 1O is an explanatory diagram showing the image information reading system by a conventional serious sensor. It is an explanatory diagram showing a state. Y...Main scanning direction, X...Sub-scanning direction, 3...Document mounting table, 4...Document scale, 7...Movement mechanism,
9...First carry, Ji, 11...Second carry,
J, 20... Image information reading unit, G, 22... Lens (optical imaging element), 23... Image sensor, 31...
...first scale (y scale), 32...second scale (x scale). Applicant's agent Patent attorney Takehiko Suzue Figure 5 Figure 6

Claims (1)

[Claims] An image information reading unit consisting of an optical imaging element and an n-bit image sensor is movable in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction via a carriage means, and the image information reading unit performs scanning in the sub-scanning direction. In the image forming apparatus, the image information reading unit is moved in the main scanning direction every n bits to scan the maximum copying range indicated by the original scale on the original table. An image forming apparatus characterized in that it is configured so that only a copying range corresponding to a document size can be specified and scanned.