KR20080031584A - Image forming apparatus having the function of guiding how to print the both sides of a document and the printing method of the both sides of a document thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

An image forming apparatus having a function for guiding a both-sided printing method and the both-sided printing method are provided to enable the images of a side and the other side of a document to be printed on the same printing region on a side and the other side of a piece of printing paper, thereby acquiring the same output document as an original document. An image forming apparatus(100) includes a display unit(170), a paper feeding cassette, a memory unit, a control unit(180), an input unit(150), a reading unit(140) and a printing unit. The paper feeding cassette loads printing papers. The memory unit stores guide information about predetermined printing paper arrangement so that the image regions of a side and the other side of a document formed in both sides of a printing paper can match each other. One side printed paper is arranged on the paper feeding cassette to match the image regions. An image of a side of the document is formed on the one side printing paper. The control unit controls the display unit to display the guide information about the printing paper arrangement stored in the memory unit when the both-sided printing of a document with a smaller size than the printing paper is requested.

Description

IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS HAVING THE FUNCTION OF GUIDING HOW TO PRINT THE BOTH SIDES OF A DOCUMENT AND THE PRINTING METHOD OF THE BOTH SIDES OF A DOCUMENT THEREOF}

1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;

2 is a perspective view illustrating main parts of the image forming apparatus of FIG. 1;

3 is a block diagram of the image forming apparatus of FIG. 1;

4A and 4D are schematic views showing a process of printing one side of an original of the image forming apparatus of FIG. 1;

5A and 5D are schematic diagrams illustrating a document back printing process of the image forming apparatus of FIG. 1;

6 is a flowchart of a duplex printing method of the image forming apparatus of FIG.

Explanation of symbols on the main parts of the drawings

100: image forming apparatus 110: paper feed cassette

120: transfer unit 130: printing unit

140: reading unit 145: stage glass

150: input unit 160: memory unit

170: display unit 180: control unit

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and a duplex printing method, and more particularly, to an image forming apparatus and a duplex printing method for guiding duplex printing information to a user so that the user can easily perform duplex printing.

An image forming apparatus is an apparatus for forming a predetermined image on a print medium or an electronic file, and includes an inkjet printer, a laser printer, a copying machine, a facsimile, a multifunction device combining several functions, and the like.

There are times when an image forming apparatus such as a multifunction printer or copier copies two-sided originals smaller than the printed paper onto one sheet of printed paper to obtain a copy in the same form as the original document. Copiers and multi-function printers with an automatic document feeder (ADF) with double-sided scanning of originals can easily copy both sides of the original, but are not widely used for home use because of their high cost.

In addition, if the document is thick, such as a resident registration card or passport, even if an automatic document feeder (ADF) exists, duplex copying cannot be performed using it. Thus, the user must make duplex copying by hand like an image forming apparatus without an automatic document feeder (ADF).

To manually copy both sides of the original to obtain the same output as the original, the user places the printing paper on which one side of the original is printed and the back side of the original at a specific position on the paper cassette and the stage glass, respectively. This is to allow both sides of the document to be printed on both sides of the printing paper in the same print area.

However, since most users of image forming apparatuses do not know where to place print paper and the back side of originals in order to obtain a double-sided image such as originals, it is necessary to go through several trials and errors to obtain the same double-sided copy outputs of the originals. Convenience is low.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to improve the ease of use of the image forming apparatus and its duplex printing so that the user can easily perform duplex copying when a duplex copy of a smaller size than the print paper to obtain the same output as the original To provide a way.

According to the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus having reading means for reading an original and printing means for printing image information of the read original on a printing sheet, the display unit comprising: a display unit; A paper feed cassette for loading the printing paper; One side printing paper on which the image of one side of the original is formed is stored on the paper feed cassette so that the image areas of one side and the other side of the original formed on both sides of the printing paper coincide with each other. A memory unit; When there is a double-sided printing request of an original having a smaller size than printing paper, the display unit may be achieved by an image forming apparatus including a control unit for displaying the printing paper placement guide information of the memo unit.

The memory unit may further store predetermined document rearrangement guide information on which the back of the document should be placed on stage glass, and the control unit causes the display unit to display the original rearrangement guide information. Do.

And, so that the user can more easily know the printing paper layout guide information and the original back layout guide information, the control unit is the printing paper layout guide information and the original back layout to the image information of one side of the original read by the reading means The printing unit may print the print data added with at least one of the guide information on the printing paper.

In addition, it is preferable that a marking point is formed on the paper cassette to guide the position on which the one side printing paper should be placed so that the user can easily know the position where the one side printing paper on which one side of the original is printed is to be placed. Do.

Further, the above object is a printing method of a two-sided document of an image forming apparatus having a reading means, a paper cassette for loading printing paper, and a printing portion for forming an image on paper fed from the paper cassette, (a) printing Reading one side of the original of a size smaller than a sheet of paper; (b) printing one side of the read original on printing paper; (c) predetermined printing paper placement guide information and one side printing paper on which one side of the original is printed on the paper feed cassette, such that the two-sided image areas of the original formed on one side and the other side of the printing paper coincide with each other; Achieving by the original duplex printing method of the image forming apparatus, comprising displaying to the user at least one of the predetermined document rearrangement guide information that the back of the document should be placed on the stage glass (stage glass) Can be.

Hereinafter, the image forming apparatus 100 according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. An electrophotographic multifunction apparatus 100 will be described as an example.

1 and 2, the multifunction apparatus 100 according to the present invention includes a paper feed cassette 110, a transfer unit 120, a printing unit 130, and a reading unit 140.

)를 마킹하였다. 인쇄용지 배치 위치는 급지카세트(110)에 적재된 인쇄용지의 급지방향(도 2의 A), 후술할 노광유닛(130)의 광주사방향(도 2의 B) 및 독취부(140)의 캐리어의 이동방향(도 2의 C)에 따라서 달라질 수 있다. The paper feeding cassette 110 has a knock up plate 113 for loading printing paper and a spring 115 for elastically supporting the knock up plate 113. The paper loaded in the paper feed cassette 110 is transferred into the machine of the multifunction apparatus 100 in the direction A of FIG. When copying both sides of an original, the printing paper is placed on the paper cassette 110 so that the user can easily know the arrangement position on the paper cassette 110 of the one-sided printing paper from which one side of the original is copied and discharged. Marking with points, lines, text or other symbols is desirable. In FIGS. 4C and 5C, the paper cassette 110, and more specifically, the arrow (

). The position of the printing paper is provided in the paper feeding direction (A in FIG. 2) of the printing paper loaded in the paper cassette 110, the optical scanning direction (B in FIG. 2) of the exposure unit 130 to be described later, and the carrier of the reading unit 140. It may vary depending on the moving direction of (C of FIG. 2).

The transfer unit 120 includes a pickup roller 121 for picking up the sheets of paper loaded in the paper cassette 110 in a single sheet, a pair of transfer rollers 123 for transferring the picked sheets to the printing unit 130, and a printing unit 130. Has a discharge roller 125 for discharging the paper printed by "

The printing unit 130 includes an exposure unit 131; A developing unit 133 detachable to the main body 103 of the multifunction apparatus 100, including a photosensitive drum 133a, a charging roller 133b, a developing roller 133c, and a supply roller 133d; A transfer roller 135; And a fixing unit 137.

The exposure unit 131 scans the photosensitive drum 133a with light to expose the surface of the photosensitive drum 133a charged at a uniform surface potential by the charging roller 133b. Depending on the rotation direction of the polygon mirror (not shown) of the exposure unit 131, the light scanning direction in the main scanning direction (horizontal direction of printing paper) is different. It is designed to rotate in one direction. Therefore, the light scanning direction in the main scanning direction is also determined in one direction. In this embodiment, it is assumed that the light scanning direction of the exposure unit 131 in the main scanning direction is the B direction in FIG.

In the case of an inkjet multifunction printer, the printing unit 130 may include a printing head having a nozzle for discharging ink instead of the components constituting the printing unit 130 described above. The printing unit 130 may include an ink ribbon capable of selectively heating the dye.

As shown in FIG. 1, the reading unit 140 is provided above the printing unit 130 so as to be rotatable by the hinge shaft 103. When the reading unit 140 is rotated upward, the paper printed by the printing unit 130 may be more easily taken out.

The reading unit 140 includes a light source unit (not shown) for scanning light onto the document, a reading unit 143 for reflecting light reflected by the image of the document, and a stage glass 145 on which the document requiring scanning or copying is placed. , A light source unit (not shown), a carrier (not shown) for reading the entire document while the reading means 143 is moved, and a cover 147 for protecting the stage glass 145. As the reading means 143, an optical sensor such as a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) sensor and a CIS (Contact Image Sensor) is used.

The moving direction of the carrier (not shown) is the C direction of FIG. 2. That is, the original on the stage glass 145 is read along the C direction. Of course, if the moving direction of the carrier (not shown) is designed in the opposite direction, the reading direction of the original may also be reversed to the C direction.

The stage glass 145 is supported by the outer frame 149 surrounding the outer circumference of the stage glass 145. Marking the scanning origin P1 with dots, lines, text, etc. on the outer edge 149a of the outer frame 149 so that the user can easily know where the scanning origin (see P1 in FIG. 2), which is the starting point of reading of the original, is located. It is desirable to. In addition to the scanning origin (P1) in order to provide a short guide to the user when duplex copying of a document of a smaller size than the printed paper, the original backing origin (P2), which should be placed on the backside of the original during duplex copying, also includes an outer frame (149). It is preferable to mark the phases. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the symbol “▶” may be marked at the scan origin P1, and the symbol “◆” may be marked at the original back surface P2. In some cases, it may be marked on the stage glass 145 instead of the outer frame 149, but it should be noted that the marking should be performed at the position where the original is not read. The scanning origin and the original backing origin are the paper feed direction (A in FIG. 2) of the printing paper loaded in the paper feed cassette 110, the optical scanning direction (B in FIG. 2) of the exposure unit 130, and the carrier of the reading unit 140. It may vary depending on the moving direction of (C of FIG. 2).

Meanwhile, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the multifunction apparatus 100 is stored in the input unit 150 for receiving a duplex copy or the like from a user, a memory unit 160 for storing predetermined guide information, and a memory unit 160. The controller 180 may further include a controller 180 that controls the display unit 170 and the print unit 130 to call the guide information and notify the user of the guide information.

The input unit 150 is composed of a plurality of operation buttons, and is disposed above the front of the image forming apparatus 100 so that a user can easily access the same. The user may additionally provide a separate "duplex copy" button in addition to the "copy" button for duplex copying of the original. The addition or arrangement of these operation buttons can be freely selected at design time.

The memory unit 160 provides original page arrangement guide information for guiding the user to place one side of the original at the scanning origin (see P1 in FIG. 2) on the stage glass 145 when copying both sides of an original of a size smaller than that of the printed paper. Printing paper placement guide information (see 193 in FIGS. 4D and 5D) guiding a placement position on the paper feed cassette 110 of one side of the printed paper (hereinafter, referred to as “one side printing paper”), and the back side of the document. Stores at least any one of the document rearrangement guide information for guiding the arrangement at the original back original point on the stage glass 145 (see P2, ◆ in FIG. 2). The contents of the guide information may be variously selected in consideration of whether the stage glass 145 and the paper feed cassette 110 are marked, whether the user is convenient, and the like.

The display unit 170 may be provided as a conventional display device such as a liquid crystal display (LCD). In addition, it is preferable to be disposed adjacent to the input unit 150 in view of ease of use. When duplex copying, the display unit 170 may be omitted when displaying the guide information of the memory unit 160 on a display device such as a monitor of a host computer (not shown) connected to the multifunction apparatus 100.

On the other hand, when the user requests a duplex copy of a smaller size than the printing paper through the input unit 150, the control unit 180 calls the original one-sided arrangement guide information stored in the memory unit 160 to display the display unit 170. can do. For example, the display unit 170 may display the manuscript placement guide information such as "Place document on the scan origin (▶)". In some cases, the guide information may be marked on the outer frame 149. The control unit 180 causes the display unit 170 to display the original one-sided placement guide information, and allows the user to copy a document by pressing the "OK" button after arranging the originals according to the guide information of the display unit 170. That is, the reading unit 140 reads one side of the original, and the printing unit 130 prints the read image information. In some cases, the "confirmation" button may be blinked so that the user may press the "confirmation" button of the input unit 150 after arranging originals according to the guide information.

On the other hand, the controller 180 reads the paper sheet placement guide information of the memory unit 130 (refer to 193 of FIGS. 4D and 5D) to the image information formed by the reading unit reading one surface of the original placed at the scanning origin of the stage glass. In addition, print data can be updated. At this time, the control unit 180 causes the printing unit 130 to print the updated print data and arranges the printing paper outside the one side printing area 197 on which one side of the original is printed as shown in FIGS. 4D and 5D. Guide information 193 may be displayed.

)위치에 오도록 인쇄용지를 급지카세트의 제일 윗면에 올려 놓으세요"와 같은 안내 텍스트(193b)일 수 있다.As shown in FIGS. 4D and 5D, the printing sheet arrangement guide information 193 is a symbol (for example, a mark marked on a predetermined area of the one side printing sheet S1 disposed at the printing sheet arranging position of the sheet feeding cassette 110). , ■, 193a) and the arrow on the paper cassette 110

Place the print paper on the top side of the paper cassette so that it is at the position of " 1 ".

If necessary, the controller 180 does not print the print sheet layout guide information (see 193 of FIGS. 4D and 5D) and the display unit 170 displays print sheet layout guide information (see 193 of FIGS. 4D and 5D). You can do that. That is, when one side copying of the original is detected and the copied print paper is discharged to the outside, the controller 180 calls the print paper placement guide information stored in the memory unit 130 so that the display unit 170 displays it. can do.

In some cases, the display unit 170 may display a part of the guide information, and the printing unit 130 may print the remaining part of the guide information. For example, the controller 180 prints the corresponding area of the one-sided printing paper, which is placed at the position of the printing paper of the paper feeder 110, on the one-sided image information of the read original, including a predetermined symbol (193a, ■ of FIG. 4D). The unit 130 may print, and the display unit 170 may display the remaining print paper placement guide information (193b of FIG. 4D, guide text).

In addition, as another case, the controller 180 may allow both the printing paper layout guide information (see 193 of FIGS. 4D and 5D) and the original back layout guide information to be printed on the single sided printing paper. At this time, the controller 180 may receive an input from the user by blinking the "confirmation" button of the input unit 150 to confirm whether the user correctly positioned the one-sided printing paper and the back of the document according to the guide information.

The controller 180 checks whether the user has loaded the printing paper on which one side of the document is printed in the paper cassette 110 according to the printing paper placement guide information (see 193 of FIGS. 4D and 5D). This causes the user to receive input from the user by blinking the "confirmation" button of the input unit 150 and displaying the contents to press the "confirmation" button after the arrangement of the printing paper on the display unit 170. In other words, if the user presses the "confirmation" button, it is possible to confirm the printing paper arrangement.

When the controller 180 determines that the single-sided printing paper is placed in the paper feed cassette 110, the controller 180 calls the document rearrangement guide information of the memory unit 160. The display unit 170 displays the called guide information, and the " confirmation " button of the input unit blinks to confirm whether the user has placed the back of the document.

The guiding information on the back of the document may be a phrase such as "turn the document over and place the edge of the document at the dot ◆". This content may vary depending on whether or not the original back surface origin (for example, ◆) of the stage glass 145 or the outer frame 149 is marked and the marking symbol.

When the user places the back of the original at the original back home on the stage glass 145 and presses the " OK " button, the back image of the original is printed on the other side of the one side printing paper in the same manner as the printing area of the one side of the original. In other words, a duplex printed output can be obtained in the same manner as the original document as shown in FIG. 7D.

Hereinafter, a double-sided printing process of the multifunction apparatus 100 according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 4A to 5D.

4A and 4B are schematic plan and side cross-sectional views of the reading unit 140 on which the document is placed, FIG. 4C is a schematic plan view of the paper cassette 100, and FIG. 4D is an output obtained after the processes of FIGS. 4A to 4C. Illustrated diagram of the result.

When the user presses the " copy " or " duplex copy " button of the input unit 150 to print both sides of the document, the controller 180 displays the " double-sided copy " and " original " Is it smaller? "And asks the user to enter additional copy specifications. Of course, even if the size of the document is the same as or larger than the paper, the same duplex copy of the original can be obtained. Therefore, the user is asked for "duplex copying" only, and whether the size of the document is smaller than the paper. You do not have to receive it.

When the user requests duplex copying, the controller 180 calls the original side information of the memory 160 to cause the display unit 170 to display it. Here, for the sake of better understanding, a resident registration card (D) will be described as an example. The front of the resident registration card (D) has photo information and the back of it has text information such as an address history.

Accordingly, when the user places the front of the ID card (D) at the scanning origin (▶) of the stage glass 145 as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, and presses the "OK" button of the input unit, one side of the document is read. (143) is poisoned. Printed paper layout guide information (see 193 in Figs. 4D and 5D) stored in the memory unit 160 is added to the image information on the front of the read-in identification card D to generate print data. When the white paper printing paper (S in FIG. 4C) loaded in the paper feeding cassette 110 is loaded, and the printing unit 130 prints the generated print data on the loaded paper, the single-sided printing paper S1 as shown in FIG. 4D is loaded. You can get it. In FIG. 4D, the dotted line image means that the front side (one side of the original) image of the resident registration card D is formed on the back side of the original white paper printing paper loaded on the paper feed cassette 110.

After obtaining the one-sided printing paper (S1), copy the back of the ID card (D) and print the back of the ID card (D) so that the images of the front and back of the ID card (D) are printed in the same print area on one side and the other side of the printing paper. The process is as follows.

5A and 5B are schematic plan and side cross-sectional views of the reading unit 140 on which the back of the ID card D is placed, FIG. 5C is a schematic plan view of the paper cassette 100, and FIG. 5D is a process of FIGS. 5A to 5C. Here is an example of the output you get after roughing.

When it is detected that the one-sided printing paper (S1) is discharged to the outside of the multifunction apparatus 100, the controller 180 calls the rear layout guide information from the memory unit 160 to cause the display unit 170 to display the guide information. .

)에 배치하고, 주민등록증(D)의 배면을 도 5a 및 도 5b에 도시된 바와 같이 스테이지 글래스(145)의 원고배면원점(P2, ◆)에 배치할 수 있다. 그리고, 제어부(180)는 입력부(150)의 "확인"버튼을 깜빡거려서 사용자로부터 일면인쇄용지(S1) 및 주민등록증(D)의 배면을 소정 위치에 배치하였는지 입력받는다.Then, the user places the one side printing paper S1 according to the printing paper arrangement guide information (refer to 193 of FIG. 5D) outputted on the one side printing paper S1 as shown in FIG. 5C. ,

), And the rear surface of the resident registration card (D) can be arranged at the original back surface origin point (P2, ◆) of the stage glass 145, as shown in Figure 5a and 5b. Then, the controller 180 blinks the "confirmation" button of the input unit 150 to receive an input from the user whether the rear surface of the one-sided printing paper S1 and the resident registration card D is disposed at a predetermined position.

When the user presses the "OK" button, the control unit 180 causes the reading unit 140 to read the back side of the resident registration card D and the printing unit 130 to print the image information on the back side of the read resident registration card D.

As a result, the front and back print areas of the resident registration card D formed on one printed sheet are coincident with each other, so that the same output S2 as the original resident registration card D can be obtained as shown in FIG. 5D. In the above-described duplex printing process, the same output S2 as the original can be easily obtained by guiding the user with an action to be taken by the user every step of performing duplex copying.

Hereinafter, a duplex printing method of the image forming apparatus 100 according to the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 6.

First, it is determined whether the print specification requested by the user is duplex copying (S10). In the case of duplex copying, it is determined whether the original size is smaller than the size of the printed paper (S20). This may be input by the user, or may be known by comparing the size of the printed paper with the read image information as a result of reading the document by the reading unit 130. Unnecessary information is guided during duplex copying, but it is not preferable, because the arrangement on the stage glass 145 of the original and the arrangement on the sheet feeding cassette 110 of the single-sided printing paper may be guided without comparing the size of the original and the printing paper. Step S20 may be omitted.

On the other hand, if the original size is larger than the printing paper or the same as the printing paper, a normal copying process is performed (S130).

When the size of the original is smaller than the printing paper, the one side of the stored original is called the original surface arrangement guide information for guiding a position to be placed on the stage glass 145 (S30). Then, the called manuscript guide information is displayed to the user (S40).

After that, it is determined whether one side of the document is properly placed (S50). This can be done by asking the user to enter whether or not to place one side of the manuscript. If there is an input from the user that one side of the original is placed, one side of the original is read (S60), and an image of one side of the read original is printed (S70). If it is not judged that one side of the original is properly placed, continue displaying the guide information on the one side of the original.

After the image printing on one side of the original is completed, the stored original back layout guide information and printing paper layout guide information are called (S80). Then, the called guide information is displayed (S90). Here, the guide information may be provided to the user by printing at least one of the printed paper arrangement guide information and the original back layout guide information on the printed paper by including the image data of one side of the read original. In this case, step S90 may be omitted.

According to the guide information, it is determined whether the user properly arranges the back surface and the one side printing paper at the predetermined positions of the stage glass 145 and the paper feeding cassette 110, respectively (S100). This can be done by requesting the user to input the placement of originals and printing paper. For example, the user may check whether the user presses the "confirmation" button of the input unit 150.

When the back of the original and the one side printing paper are properly disposed, the back of the original is read (S110), and the image information of the back of the read original is printed on the one side of the printed paper (S120).

Thereby, the user can easily obtain the same output as the original of the original without trial and error.

As described above, the image forming apparatus and the duplex printing method according to the present invention have the following effects.

First, it is possible for a user to easily perform duplex copying of an original on one sheet of printing paper even when the original size is smaller than the printing paper. In this way, images of one side and the other side of the original are printed on one side and the other side of one sheet of printing paper in the same print area, thereby obtaining the same output as the original original. In addition, the user convenience can be improved by allowing the user to perform duplex copying easily.

Second, since the user does not perform duplex copying by trial and error, unnecessary waste of printing paper and consumables such as ink or toner can be reduced.

Claims (5)

An image forming apparatus having reading means for reading an original and printing means for printing image information of the read original on a printing sheet, A display unit; A paper feed cassette for loading the printing paper; One side printing paper on which the image of one side of the original is formed is stored on the paper feed cassette so that the image areas of one side and the other side of the original formed on both sides of the printing paper coincide with each other. A memory unit; And a control unit for causing the display unit to display the printing paper placement guide information in the memo unit when there is a double-sided printing request of a document smaller in size than the printing paper. The method of claim 1, The memory unit further stores predetermined document rearrangement guide information on which the back side of the original should be placed on stage glass. And the control unit causes the display unit to display the document rearrangement guide information. The method of claim 2, The control unit is configured to cause the printing unit to print, on the printing paper, print data in which at least one of the printing paper placement guide information and the original back layout guide information is added to the image information of one side of the document read by the reading means. An image forming apparatus, characterized in that. The method of claim 1, And a marking point on the paper feed cassette to guide the position where the one-sided printing paper should be placed. 1. A method of printing a two-sided document of an image forming apparatus, comprising: a reading means, a paper feed cassette for loading printing paper, and a printing portion for forming an image on paper fed from the paper cassette; (a) reading one side of the document of a smaller size than the printed paper; (b) printing one side of the read original on printing paper; (c) predetermined printing paper placement guide information and one side printing paper on which one side of the original is printed on the paper feed cassette, such that the two-sided image areas of the original formed on one side and the other side of the printing paper coincide with each other; And displaying at least one of predetermined document rearrangement guide information to be arranged on a stage glass by a back side of an original to a user.

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