JP2003337447A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus by which paper is optimally cut by taking an error included in the fetching length of an original into consideration. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus possesses an original fetching part to generate an image data by fetching the original, an image forming part to output an image to the paper based on the image data and a paper cutting part to cut the paper by a set cutting length, and the fetching length L2 of the original is discriminated whether to be within the range of the error for a routine value or not (S50), and in the case of within the range of the error, the routine value is set as a cutting length (S55), and in the case of not within the range of the error, the fetching length L2 is set as the cutting length (S45). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

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 represented by a copying machine or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Digital copying in which copying is possible on paper (roll paper, etc.) longer than the original, and the paper is cut to a set cut length and discharged outside the machine. Machine (hereinafter DPPC [Digital Plain Paper
Copier]) is a mode in which the capture length of a document is conventionally set as a cut length (hereinafter referred to as a sync cut mode), and a mode in which a length input in advance is set as a cut length ( Hereinafter, the two modes of the designated length cut mode) were installed.

[0003]

Certainly, with the DPPC having the above-described structure, even if the length of the original document to be copied is unknown, the output length of the original document can be changed by selecting the synchro cut mode. It is possible to match the capture length. Also, if the designated length cut mode is selected, the output length can be set to an arbitrary length by the user.

However, the DPPC having the above structure
Then, when a standard size document is copied in the sync cut mode, the document is standard size because the paper is cut at the length of the document that includes the error due to variations in the document insertion angle and the equal magnification. Nevertheless, there was a problem that the output length varied. On the other hand, when copying a standard size document in the designated length cut mode, the user needs to recognize and input the length of the document, which causes a problem that the operation is troublesome.

In view of the above problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus capable of optimally cutting a sheet in consideration of an error included in a length of a document taken in. .

[0006]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes an original document capturing section for capturing an original document to generate image data, and a sheet on a sheet based on the image data. An image forming unit that outputs an image, a capture length calculation unit that calculates the capture length of the document from the image data, and whether the capture length of the document is within an error range with respect to a predetermined value. And a paper cutting unit that cuts the paper so that the length thereof becomes a set cut length, and the length of the original taken in with respect to the predetermined value. If it is within the error range, the predetermined value is set as the cut length, and if it is not within the error range, the document take-in length is set as the cut length.

The image forming apparatus having the above structure is
The error range may be increased or decreased according to the predetermined value.

The image forming apparatus having the above structure is
Roll paper may be used as the paper.

[0009]

1 is a block diagram showing the structure of the essential parts of a digital copying machine according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view schematically showing the structure of the essential parts of a digital copying machine according to the present invention. Is. As shown in both figures, a digital copying machine 1 (hereinafter referred to as DPPC1) of the present embodiment is a central processing unit 10 (hereinafter referred to as CPU [Ce
ntralProcessing Unit] 10), a document transport unit 11 that automatically transports a document, and a document import unit 1 that captures a document transported from the document transport unit 11 to generate image data.
2, an operation display unit 13 including operation means (such as a numeric keypad and touch panel) and display means (such as a liquid crystal display)
And an image forming unit 14 that outputs an image onto a sheet based on image data, and a sheet feeding unit 15 that feeds the image forming unit 14.
And a ROM [Read O
nly Memory] and RAM used as a work area [Ra
ndom Access Memory].

The CPU 10 detects whether the original length is within the error range with respect to a predetermined value (standard length), and the length of the original calculation unit 101 for calculating the original length from the image data. The error determining unit 102 for determining whether or not the control unit controls the operation of the entire apparatus, and also controls the sheet cutting operation of the present embodiment, which will be described later in detail. Note that in order to facilitate understanding of the description, in FIG.
01 and the error determination unit 102 are shown as independent blocks, the signal processing in each unit is performed by the CPU 10
It is executed by software.

The image forming unit 14 includes a print unit 141 including a printer head and a photosensitive drum, and the print unit 141.
The fixing unit 142 that fixes the image output obtained in step S1 to the sheet.
And.

The paper feed unit 15 includes paper storage units 151a, 151b, 151c for storing roll papers having different widths,
A roller 152 that guides each roll paper to the image forming unit 14.
a, 152b, 152c and a paper cutting unit 1 for cutting each roll paper so that the length becomes a set cut length
And 53. The paper cutting unit 153 is a slide cutter, and when the roll paper is cut, the roller 152 is previously cut.
The paper is buffered between b and 152c (broken line in FIG. 2), and then the rotation of the rollers 152a and 152b is temporarily stopped, and then the cutting operation is performed. With such a configuration, it is possible to cut the roll paper with high accuracy without delaying the feeding to the image forming unit 14. The roll paper feed length is calculated based on the number of rotations of the roller 152a.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of trays and sorters are provided at the rear stage of the DPPC 1 having the above-mentioned structure.
Further, the finisher 2 having a staple portion, a punch portion, a bent portion, etc. can be mounted. By mounting the finisher 2 as described above, post-processing including output sorting, stapling, punching, and bending can be collectively performed, so that productivity can be improved. The operation control of the finisher 2 is D
It is performed by the CPU 10 of the PPC 1.

Next, the document copying operation in the DPPC 1 having the above-mentioned structure will be described. In the document copy operation in the DPPC 1, the document is first transported from the document transport unit 11 to the document import unit 12, and the document import unit 12 captures the document (generates image data). The generated image data is once stored in the memory unit 16, then read again and sent to the image forming unit 14. After that, the image forming unit 14 outputs an image on a sheet based on the input image data. At this time, the paper cutting unit 153 performs a roll paper cutting operation in order to eject the roll paper supplied from the paper supply unit 15 to the outside of the machine.

Here, in the DPPC 1 according to the present invention, as the cut mode for setting the cut length of the roll paper, in addition to the synchro cut mode and the designated length cut mode described above, the length of the original taken in is predetermined. If it is within the error range with respect to the value (standard length), the predetermined value is set as the cut length, and if it is not within the error range, the document take-in length is set as the cut length. The feature is that a mode (hereinafter referred to as a fixed sync cut mode) is installed.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing an example of the cut length setting operation in the DPPC 1. When setting the cut length of the roll paper, first, in step S5, the operation input unit 13 receives a cut mode selection operation by the user. In this step, the user selects one of the three cut modes (synchronized, designated length, fixed-form synchronized) mounted on the DPPC 1.

In the following step S10, it is determined whether or not the cut mode selected in step S5 is the designated length cut mode. Here, if it is determined that the selected cut mode is the designated length cut mode, the flow proceeds to step S15, and if it is determined that the selected cut mode is not the designated length cut mode, the flow skips to step S20. To be done.

When it is determined in step S10 that the selected cut mode is the designated length cut mode, in step S15, the operation display section 13 accepts the input operation of the arbitrary cut length (L1) by the user. After that, the flow proceeds to step S20.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S10 that the selected cut mode is not the designated length cut mode, then in step S20 the document take-in unit 12 takes in the document (image data generation). The generated image data is once stored in the memory unit 16 as described above.

In the subsequent step S25, the original length (L2) is calculated by the original length calculator 101.
In the calculation processing of the capture length in this step, the number of lines of the image data stored in the memory unit 16 is managed,
This is done by converting the number of lines into a length.

In the following step S30, it is determined whether or not the cut mode selected in step S5 is the designated length cut mode. Here, when it is determined that the selected cut mode is the designated length cut mode, the flow proceeds to step S35, and when it is determined that the selected cut mode is not the designated length cut mode, the flow proceeds to step S40. To be

If it is determined in step S30 that the selected cut mode is the designated length cut mode, then in step S35, an arbitrary cut length (L
1) is set as the cut length, and the series of cut length setting operations is completed. In the case of the DPPC 1 equipped with such a designated length cut mode, the output length is selected by the user by selecting the designated length cut mode regardless of the length of the document to be copied. ) Can be.

Prior to setting the cut length in step S35, a step of comparing the arbitrary cut length (L1) with the original take-in length (L2) is provided. (L1) is the length of the original taken in (L
When it is determined that the condition does not satisfy 2), the fact may be notified, and the user may be asked to determine whether or not the flow proceeds to step S35. With such a configuration, it is possible to prevent the output image from being cut off due to erroneous setting of the arbitrary cut length (L1).

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S30 that the selected cut mode is not the designated length cut mode, then in step S40 it is determined whether the cut mode selected in step S5 is the synchro cut mode. A decision is made. Here, if it is determined that the selected cut mode is the synchronized cut mode, the flow proceeds to step S45, and if it is determined that the selected cut mode is not the synchronized cut mode, the flow proceeds to step S50.

If it is determined in step S40 that the selected cut mode is the sync cut mode,
In step S45, the length (L2) of the original taken in is set as the cut length, and the series of cut length setting operations is completed. D equipped with such a sync cut mode
With PPC1, even if the original length to be copied is unknown, by selecting the synchro cut mode,
It is possible to match the output length with the original length (L2) taken in.

On the other hand, when it is determined in step S40 that the selected cut mode is not the synchro cut mode, in step S40, the cut mode selected in step S5 is regarded as the standard synchro cut mode, In the following step S50, the error determination unit 102 determines that the original take-in length (L2) is the standard length (for example, in the case of the A row, 297 mm, 420 mm, 594 mm, 841).
mm, 1187 mm) within the error range (eg ± 3
(within mm) is determined. Here, if it is determined that the error is outside the error range, the flow proceeds to step S45.
If it is determined to be within the error range, the flow proceeds to step S55.

In step S50, the length of the original taken in (L
When 2) is determined to be outside the error range for the standard length,
In step S45, the length (L2) of the original taken in is set as the cut length, and the series of cut length setting operations is completed. On the other hand, if it is determined that the cut length is within the error range, the standard length is set as the cut length in step S55, and the series of cut length setting operations is ended. With the DPPC 1 equipped with such a standard sync cut mode,
By selecting the standard synchro cut mode when copying a standard size document, optimal paper cutting in consideration of an error included in the document capture length (L2) can be performed without performing a complicated operation. It is possible to do.

Generally, the length of the original taken in (L
The error included in 2) tends to increase as the length of the original increases. In view of such a tendency, the DPPC 1 of the present embodiment is configured to increase or decrease the error range according to the standard length in the error determination operation in step S50 (for example, the error range for the standard length 297 mm is ± 3 mm, the standard size is Error range is ± 4 for length 420mm
mm). With this configuration,
Since the accuracy of the error determination operation can be improved, it is possible to cut the paper accurately.

In the above-described embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to the digital copying machine has been described as an example. However, the application target of the present invention is not limited to this, and it is applied to other image forming apparatuses. Is also widely applicable.

[0030]

As described above, the image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes an original document capturing section for capturing an original document and generating image data, and an image forming section for outputting an image on a sheet based on the image data. , A capture length calculation unit that calculates the capture length of the document from the image data, an error determination unit that determines whether the capture length of the document is within an error range with respect to a predetermined value, and a paper And a paper cutting unit that cuts the paper so that the length becomes the set cut length, and if the original take-in length is within the error range with respect to the predetermined value, the predetermined value is set to the predetermined value. The cut length is set, and if it is not within the error range, the length of the original taken in is set as the cut length.

With such a configuration, even when copying a document of a standard size, optimal paper cutting is performed in consideration of an error included in the length of the document taken in without performing a complicated operation. Is possible.

The image forming apparatus having the above structure is
The error range may be increased or decreased according to the predetermined value. With such a configuration, it is possible to improve the accuracy of the error determination operation, so that it is possible to perform accurate sheet cutting.

The image forming apparatus having the above structure is
Roll paper may be used as the paper. With such a configuration, it is not necessary to prepare a plurality of output sheets each having a length corresponding to each original even when the originals having different lengths are taken in.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of a digital copying machine according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view schematically showing a structure of a main part of a digital copying machine according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of a cut length setting operation in DPPC1.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Digital copier (DPPC) 10 Central processing unit (CPU) 101 Capture length calculation unit 102 error determination unit 11 Document feeder 12 Original capture section 13 Operation display section 14 Image forming section 141 Printing department 142 fixing unit 15 Paper feeder 151a, 151b, 151c Paper storage section 152a, 152b, 152c rollers 153 Paper cutting unit 16 memory section 2 finisher

Continued front page    (72) Inventor Takayuki Furumoto             1-2-2 Tamatsukuri, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka Prefecture             Kyocera Mita Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 2H072 DA04 HA04                 2H106 AB12 AB63                 5C062 AA05 AB02 AB20 AB34 AC17                       AC67 AE15 AF10 BA00

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A document capturing unit that captures a document to generate image data, an image forming unit that outputs an image to a sheet based on the image data, and a capture length of the document from the image data. A capture length calculation unit for calculating, an error determination unit for determining whether or not the capture length of the original document is within an error range with respect to a predetermined value, and a cut sheet for which the length is set. And a paper cutting unit that cuts to a length, and if the length of the original taken in is within an error range with respect to the predetermined value, the predetermined value is set as the cut length. The image forming apparatus is characterized in that the length of taking in the original is set as the cut length unless it is within the error range. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the error range is increased or decreased according to the predetermined value. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein roll paper is used as the paper.