JPS62293256A - Picture processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To attain both-face copying having more excellent generarity by displaying the number of sheets stacked on an intermediate tray in accordance with a key operation from an operation part. CONSTITUTION:A printer 2 feeds paper from a paper feeding stage cassettee 401, or 402, a paper deck 3 or the intermediate tray 413 specified by a reader 1 by respective paper feeding rollers and carrying rollers. The paper discharged from the fixing part 405 is carried to an eccentric cam 406 in accordance with a destination to be discharged specified by the reader 1, and in case of the 1st plane of both-face copying and the 1st plane of multiplex copying, the paper is carried to a carrying roller 409 and stacked on an intermediate tray 412. An intermediate tray sheet number display key 621 displays the number of sheets stacked on the tray 412 on an intermediate sheet number display part 606 during the depressed period of the key 621. When there is marginal time, the number of copies are checked, and after executing additional copying of a company's mark, a map, or the like, the sheets can be easily stacked on the tray 412. Thus, the copying machine can be effectively used.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] 3. Detailed Description of the Invention The present invention relates to a duplex function of an image processing device such as a copying machine that optically reads a document on a document table and obtains a reproduced image by an image forming section. .

Conventionally, this type of copying machine has been announced to be capable of automatic duplexing, but after copying one side (first side), the next side (second side) is copied, one copy at a time. In many cases, even if the printer makes multiple copies of only the first side and stores them in an intermediate tray, the second side must be copied the next time. Therefore, if you want to copy the same image on the first page (for example, a company emblem), you must first copy the first page and then place it again in the paper feed tray (paper feed cassette, etc.). Ta.

The present invention eliminates the inconveniences of the prior art described above, and at the same time enables more versatile double-sided copying.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

In FIG. 1, 1 is a document reading device (hereinafter referred to as a reader) that reads a document on a platen and outputs it as an image signal, and 2 is an image forming device (hereinafter referred to as a reader) that forms a reproduced image based on the image signal output from the reader. (hereinafter referred to as a printer), 3 is a paper deck for feeding image-forming paper from the outside to the printer 3, and 4 is for storing copy paper with an image formed on one side in the printer 2, and forming an image on the other side. A double-sided paper transport unit (hereinafter referred to as a double-sided unit) feeds the previous copy paper to the printer 3 again, and 5 is a processing device (hereinafter referred to as a sorter) that collates the copy sheets on which images have been formed by the printer 2. . They have the same structure, are mechanically connected, and work as one.

Next, the inside of the reader 1 will be explained in detail with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the reader 1.

An image sensor 203 such as a CCD is used to read the image information of a document 2.02 held down by a document cover 210 and placed on a document table 201, and illumination light from a light source 204 is reflected on the surface of the document 202. Mirror 205°206
．． An image is formed on the image sensor 203 by a lens 208 via a lens 207 . Optical image 204, mirror 205 and mirror 20
6.207 is designed to move at a relative speed of 2:1. This optical unit moves from left to right at a constant speed while being under PLL control by a DC servo motor 209.

The optical unit is moved forward from the left end to the right end while reading the main scanning line perpendicular to the sub-scanning direction Y in which the optical unit moves at a resolution of approximately 16 pef/mm, and then moved back to the left end again. Finish the scan.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the internal configuration of the reader I. As shown in FIG.

Optical lens 208 is used to form an image of a document placed on a document table (not shown) onto CCD 203 .

The original image is sequentially scanned by an optical system (not shown), but since such a reading technique is a well-known technique, detailed explanation will be omitted.

The CCD 203 converts the shading of the original image into an electrical signal.

This electrical signal is amplified by the amplifier circuit 302 and converted into an analog signal.
A digital converter (A/D converter) 303 converts each pixel into a multi-value digital signal.

Furthermore, the digital signal is transmitted to the shading correction circuit 304.
After removing shading caused by uneven light emission of the light source, uneven luminous intensity distribution of the optical system, uneven sensitivity of the CCD, etc., the signal is sent to a binarization circuit 305 and converted into a binary digital image signal.

Binarization can be performed using two methods: a method using a constant binary level given by the latch circuit 307, and a method using a binary level periodically changed within a predetermined matrix size by the dither ROM 308, so-called dithering. A selector 306 selects and switches between two types of binarization processing. The dither method uses a binary signal to reproduce halftones in a pseudo manner, and is widely used in facsimiles and the like.

In this embodiment, it is possible to obtain an optimal copy image by selecting a method that gives a constant binary level for text documents, etc., and a dither method for documents that require gradation, such as photographs. It has become.

Dither ROM 308 sequentially reads dither patterns stored at addresses given by counter 309. Note that the CCD 203 is a CCD drive circuit 301.
Driven by

Further, the A/D converted image information is stored in the image memory 318.
This memory is connected to the CPU bus and
Accessed from U, manuscript recognition and AE (ground skip)
etc.

The CPU 310 operates according to a control program written in the ROM 311, and controls the entire reader using a RAM 312, an I10 port 315, a timer circuit 316, a serial circuit 317, and a key table drive circuit 313.

The key display drive circuit 313 is a circuit for scanning the key matrix of the operation unit 314 and driving a display such as an LED. Further, the serial circuit 317 is a circuit used for giving control commands to the printer and document feeding device, and conversely for receiving and receiving information.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of the internal configuration of the printer.

As shown in FIG. 4, the serial signal from reader 1 is
The signal is input to the serial circuit 501 and processed by the CPU 500. The serial circuit 501 is also used for exchanging information with the sorter 5.

The CPU 5nO operates according to a control program stored in the ROM 503, and includes a RAM 504, a timer circuit 502,
The I10 port 505 is used to control the entire printer paper deck and duplex unit.

The input interface 507 performs input processing of sensor signals such as paper detection in the printer. The drive circuit 508 is a circuit for driving a motor, a high voltage transformer, etc. (not shown). A display circuit 506 is used to display printer status such as no printing paper or occurrence of paper jam.

The VDO signal (image signal) sent from the reader is input to the roller driver 509, and the semiconductor laser 510
It is converted into laser light based on the VDO signal. The laser beam is focused by a collimator lens 511, and scanned by a polygon mirror 512 in a direction substantially parallel to the rotation axis of a photosensitive drum 514, which is rotated by a predetermined amount. The scanned laser light is corrected by the f-theta lens 513, and is irradiated onto the photosensitive drum 514 to form a latent image based on the VDO signal.

Image formation in printers uses a so-called electrostatic recording method, in which the required portion of the charge applied to the photosensitive drum 514 is removed using a laser beam, and this is developed using a developer to be printed onto print paper. This is done by transferring and fixing.

Since the electrostatic recording method is a well-known technique, detailed explanation will be omitted.

Now, the laser beam scanned by the polygon mirror 512 is incident on the optical fiber 515 before being irradiated onto the photosensitive drum 514, and when the photodetector 516 detects the incident, it outputs an electric signal (a BD multiplied signal).

If the reader waits for the time from generation of the BD double signal until the laser beam reaches the photosensitive drum 514 and then outputs the VDO signal, a latent image will be formed at an appropriate position on the photosensitive drum 514.

The double-sided copying method of this embodiment will be explained below using FIG.

A document is placed on the platen 201, and the reader 1 outputs a paper feed stage, paper discharge light, and a copy start command to the printer 2, and starts reading to output an image signal.

Printer 2 receives the copy start command from reader 1
Then, paper is started to be fed from the paper feed stage cassette 401 or 402, paper deck 3, or intermediate tray 413 designated by the reader 1 by each paper feed roller and transport roller. The paper stops at one registration roller 403, and is moved to the registration roller 403 by the image leading edge signal from the reader 1.
By re-rotating and sending out the toner image, the timing is aligned with the toner image drawn on the photoreceptor 514. The paper onto which the toner image has been transferred passes through the conveying section 404 and is transferred to the fixing section 4.
At step 05, the toner image is fixed on the paper. The destination of the paper coming out of the fixing unit 405 is determined by controlling the deflection cam 406 in accordance with the paper ejection light specified by the reader l.

For non-sorting, sorting, and collating, eject roller 4
At 07.408, the paper is discharged to the sorter 5. and,
In the case of sorting, the bin 414 is moved every time one sheet is discharged. In the case of collate, one bin is moved at the start of copying, and in the case of non-sort, no bin is moved.

In the case of double-sided first side and multiple first side, the conveyance roller 40
Convey the paper towards 9. Then, the deflection cam 410 moves the intermediate tray 41 from the cam 410 in the case of multiple first surfaces.
It is placed on 2. In other words, the image will be on the bottom of the paper. In the case of a double-sided first side, the paper passes over the cam 410 and is ejected from the ejection roller 411 to the intermediate tray, so that the image is on the upper side of the paper on the intermediate tray. The roller 415 is a paper feed roller from the intermediate tray, and the paper from the intermediate tray is sequentially fed from the bottom. Roller 414 is a conveyance roller.

FIG. 6 shows the operating section in this embodiment, which will be explained below.

A copy start key 601 starts the copying operation. A reset key 602 resets each setting (magnification, etc.). A stop key 603 instructs to stop the copy operation. A numeric keypad 604 is used to input the number of sheets, and a clear key 605 is used to clear the input. The number of sheets display section 606 displays the number of remaining sheets during input and copying operations. A density display section 607 indicates copy density, and is moved by a density key 608. An error display section 609 displays various errors.

The AE key 610 is used to specify or cancel automatic density adjustment. The photo key 611 specifies the dithering process shown in FIG. The paper size display section 612 displays the paper size of the paper feed tray displayed on the paper feed tray display section 613. The paper feed tray display section 613 displays the paper feed section selected by the selection key 614. The paper feed stage can be selected from an upper cassette, a lower cassette, a paper deck, and an intermediate tray l. The paper discharge light display section 615 displays the paper discharge section selected by the selection key 616.

While the intermediate tray number display key 621 is pressed, the number of sheets loaded on the intermediate tray is displayed on the number display section 606.

The magnification display section 619 displays the magnification selected by the magnification selection key 618 and the magnification specified by the zoom key 617.

The operation of the reader's microcomputer is shown in a flowchart with reference to FIG. 7, and will be described below.

The status of the printer is received through communication with the printer, and if an error has occurred, it is displayed on the error display section (609 in FIG. 6) of the operation section (S701.5703).

If there is no error in the printer (if the copy start key 610 is pressed, the printer is instructed by communication to the paper feed tray and paper ejection section indicated on the display at that time (S704゜570
5) Instruct the printer to start copying via communication (S
706). If the copy start key 601 is not pressed, it is difficult to judge whether another key is pressed (5707), and if it is pressed, the process corresponding to that key is executed, for example, if the intermediate tray number display key 621 is displayed, the number of intermediate tray sheets is displayed. A process of displaying the counter value on the sheet number display section 606 is performed. Then, it instructs the printer about the specified paper feed stage (S709), and also receives various information (paper size, error information, etc.) from the printer via communication (5718).
, returns to error check (S701). After specifying a copy start instruction to the printer, the printer waits for paper feed availability information from the printer (S710).

If paper feeding is possible, output a paper feeding instruction (5711), and at the same time read the original and output an image signal (S
712). Then, if it is a double-sided first side copy or a multiplexed first side copy (S719), the intermediate tray sheet number counter is counted up, and if the paper is fed from the intermediate tray (S7
21), the intermediate tray sheet number counter is drained (S722). Then, it is determined whether reading of the number of sheets specified by the numeric keypad 604 has been completed (5723),
When finished, a copy stop instruction is output to the printer (S724), and the process returns to normal processing. If the number of copies has not been completed or if you are waiting for paper availability information, an error may occur due to printer information communication (paper jam, etc.)
S714, 5715) and the stop key 603 are monitored to stop copying manually (S716), and if copying is to be stopped, a copy stop instruction is output (S717) and the process returns to normal processing.

Next, FIG. 8 shows a flow chart of the operation of the microcomputer of the printer, which will be explained below.

The printer communicates with the reader information such as errors and paper size,
Communication of instructions from the reader is performed (S801).

In this embodiment, the reader and printer communicate with each other in a manner in which the reader takes the leadership position, and the printer communicates in a subordinate manner. Then, there are errors in various parts of the printer (paper jam, no specified paper, door open, etc.)
It is determined whether an error has occurred (5802), and if there is an error, the process returns to communication with the reader. Next, it is determined whether there is a copy start instruction from the reader (5803), and if there is a start instruction, the operations of each part of the printer are started and preprocessing is performed (S804). Pre-processing refers to returning the sorter to the first bin, outputting high voltage for electrostatic recording, etc. Then, when the preprocessing is completed, it is communicated that paper feeding is possible (S806
). Then, if there is a paper feeding instruction from the reader (S809
) Start feeding paper from the specified paper feed stage (upper and lower cassettes, paper deck, intermediate tray) and perform image forming operation in synchronization with the image signal (S810, 5811)
.

Then, according to the instructions of the paper discharge section, the paper is discharged and conveyed to the sorter or intermediate tray through the path shown in FIG. 5 (S812).

Then, it is determined whether an error (paper jam, no paper, etc.) has occurred (5815), and if there is an error, each section is automatically stopped (3818). If there is no error, information is communicated with the printer (5816), and if there is a copy stop instruction, each part of the printer is stopped, the copy operation is completed, and normal processing returns (S818), but if there is no stop instruction, paper feed is possible output. I do. Furthermore, even when waiting for a paper feed instruction, processing from error checking is performed as shown in the figure.

As explained above, in double-sided copying and multiplex copying, when the intermediate tray on which the first side of the paper is copied can be specified from the operation panel as a paper feed stage, the number of sheets loaded on the intermediate tray can be specified using the operation panel. By making the display correspond to key operations from
It is also easier to make additional copies of maps and the like and load them onto the intermediate tray, making it possible to use the copying machine more effectively.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Figure 1 is an external view of this example. Figure 2 is an internal configuration diagram of the reader. Figure 3 is the internal control circuit diagram of the reader. Figure 4 is the internal control circuit diagram of the printer. Figure 5 is an internal configuration diagram of the printer. Figure 6 is an external view of the reader's operating section. Figure 7 is a reader control flowchart. Figure 8 is a printer control flowchart 1 is a reader 2 is a printer 3 is paper deck 4 is a double-sided unit 5 is a sorter.

Claims (1)

[Claims] In an image processing device that reads a document and obtains a reproduced image by an image forming section, the image processing device has a function of accumulating paper on which an image has been formed, transports the paper from the paper accumulating section, and regenerates the image. An image processing device capable of forming an image, and displaying the number of sheets in the recycled paper storage section in response to a key operation from an operation section.