JP4809641B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a composite apparatus (MFP (multifunction peripheral)).

When copy processing is performed by a copying machine or a multifunction device, the output paper is a primary paper feed from the paper feed cassette to the registration roller, and a secondary paper feed from the registration roller through the printing process to the discharge. Go through.
Conventionally, in the case of normal printing, in order to increase the first copy speed, a print start event (primary paper feed start request) is transmitted from the scanner unit to the print control unit during reading of the original, and the print control is performed. A technique is disclosed in which primary feed is performed in advance by transmitting a primary feed start request from the means to the feed control means, or the transport speed of the primary feed is increased (for example, patent document) 1 and 2).

On the other hand, when an image editing process such as an enlargement / reduction process or a rotation process of a document is performed by the scanner unit, the image editing process time is not constant. Therefore, as shown in FIG. When the printing is completed, the scanner unit 1 transmits a print start event (primary paper feed start request) to the print control unit 2, and the print control unit 2 transmits a primary paper feed start request to the paper feed control unit 3. The timing of secondary sheet feeding is completely left to the sheet feeding control means 3.
JP-A-6-102727 JP 2000-255841 A

  In the conventional image forming apparatus, when the scanner unit 1 requires image editing processing such as enlargement / reduction processing or rotation processing of the document, the scanner unit 1 outputs the document at the timing when the document reading processing and image editing processing are completed. A print start event is transmitted to the print control means 2. For this reason, in the case of copying involving image editing processing by the scanner unit 1, the first copy speed is significantly higher than that in the case of normal copying in which a print start event is transmitted from the scanner unit 1 to the print control unit 2 during reading of an original. There is a problem of falling.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of increasing the first copy speed of a copy accompanying image editing.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has a document reading processing function for optically reading a document, an image editing processing function for editing the read image, and a printing means for printing the image. Scanner means for sending a paper feed start request to the printer, print control means for receiving the paper feed start request from the scanner means, and sending the paper feed start request, and the paper feed from the print control means An image forming apparatus comprising: a sheet feeding control unit that receives a start request and performs a primary sheet feeding process and a secondary sheet feeding process to the printing unit based on the sheet feeding start request; Transmits a start request for primary paper feed from the start of reading the original to the end of the image editing process, and transmits a secondary paper feed start request after the image editing process is completed. Constitution Are you.

  According to the above configuration, the scanner unit transmits a primary paper feed start request between the start of reading a document and the end of the read image editing process. Since the paper start request is transmitted, it is possible to increase the first copy speed of the copy accompanied by the image editing as compared to the case where the primary paper feed start request is transmitted at the timing when the image editing process is completed, as in the prior art. .

In the present invention , the primary paper feed is configured to cause the output paper to reach the registration roller from the paper feed cassette, and the secondary paper feed is configured to discharge the output paper from the registration roller via the printing unit. .

The present invention also includes a paper jam detection means for detecting a paper jam in the resist roller position, the paper jam detecting unit is configured so as to operate after the start of the secondary paper feeding.
According to the above configuration, it is possible to reliably prevent erroneous detection of a paper jam at the registration roller position by the paper jam detection unit.

According to the present invention , the scanner means transmits the primary paper feed start request when the document reading starts.
According to the above configuration, since the scanner unit transmits a primary paper feed start request at the start of document reading, as compared with the conventional case of transmitting a primary paper feed start request at the timing when image editing processing is completed. The first copy speed of copying involving image editing can be greatly increased.

In the present invention , the image editing processing function of the scanner unit has at least an image enlargement / reduction processing function and a rotation processing function.

  According to the present invention, the scanner unit transmits a primary paper feed start request between the start of reading a document and the end of the read image editing process. Since the paper start request is transmitted, it is possible to increase the first copy speed of the copy accompanied by the image editing as compared to the case where the primary paper feed start request is transmitted at the timing when the image editing process is completed, as in the prior art. The effect is obtained.

  Hereinafter, an example of an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining an image forming apparatus as an example of an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a sequence diagram for explaining the operation of the image forming apparatus, and FIG. 3 is for explaining the operation of the image forming apparatus. It is a flowchart figure for doing.

  As shown in FIG. 1, an image forming apparatus 10 which is an example of an embodiment of the present invention has a document reading processing function for optically reading a document and an image editing processing function for editing a read image. And a scanner unit 11 for transmitting a paper feed start request to the printing unit 14 for printing an image, and a print control for receiving the paper feed start request from the scanner unit 11 and transmitting the paper feed start request. Means 12 and a paper feed control means 13 that receives a paper feed start request from the print control means 12 and performs a primary paper feed process and a secondary paper feed process to the printing means 14 based on the paper feed start request. And.

  Here, the primary paper feed processed by the paper feed control means 13 means that the output paper 15 is sent one by one from the paper feed cassette 16 by the feed roller 17 and reaches the registration roller 18 positioned in front of the printing means 14. In this case, the secondary paper feeding means that the output paper 15 is sent from the registration roller 18 to the printing unit 14 and is discharged through the fixing roller 19 and the discharge roller 20 after the printing process. Further, the feed roller 17, the registration roller 18, the fixing roller 19, the discharge roller 20, and the like are driven by controlling a driving circuit (not shown) of each roller by the paper feed control unit 13.

  The scanner unit 11 has an image enlargement / reduction processing function and a rotation processing function as image editing processing functions. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, a copy button (not shown) of the image forming apparatus 10 is used. 1) is sent to the print control means 12 at the timing when the reading of the original is started, and after the image editing process is completed, the secondary feed start request is sent to the print control means 12. To do.

  In addition to controlling the printing unit 14, the print control unit 12 receives a primary paper feed start request from the scanner unit 11 and sends the primary paper feed start request to the paper feed control unit 13 as shown in FIG. At the same time, a secondary paper feed start request from the scanner unit 11 is received and the secondary paper feed start request is transmitted to the paper feed control unit 13.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the paper feed control unit 13 receives a primary paper feed start request from the print control unit 12 and, based on the primary paper feed start request, drives a drive circuit for the feed roller 17. By controlling, the output paper 15 reaches the registration roller 18 from the paper feed cassette 16, and the output paper 15 is put on standby at the registration roller 18 position.

Here, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, a paper jam detection sensor (paper jam detection means) 21 for detecting a paper jam is arranged near the registration roller 18. A signal from the paper jam detection sensor 21 is output to the paper feed control unit 13, and the paper feed control unit 13 changes when the time from the completion of the primary paper feed to the start of the secondary paper feed exceeds a certain time. Then, when the waiting time of the output paper 15 at the position of the registration roller 18 exceeds a certain time, a paper jam is detected. For example, the paper jam is in a liquid crystal display means (not shown) of the image forming apparatus. Is displayed, and the printing process of the printing unit 14 is stopped.
Therefore, when the image editing processing time by the scanner unit 11 becomes long, the secondary paper feed start request cannot be transmitted from the scanner unit 11 to the print control unit 12 within a certain time, and the registration roller 18 position is reached. Since the waiting time of the output paper 15 becomes long, there is a possibility that it is erroneously detected as paper jam in spite of being normal.

  Therefore, in this embodiment, when a primary paper feed start request is transmitted from the print control unit 12 to the paper feed control unit 13, information is added that does not detect a paper jam until the secondary paper feed start request is received. Alternatively, the paper feed control unit 13 detects a paper jam after receiving the secondary paper feed start request from the print control unit 12, and the paper jam detection process is activated after the secondary paper feed is started. Yes.

  When the paper feed control unit 13 receives the secondary paper feed start request from the print control unit 12, the drive circuits for the registration roller 18, the fixing roller 19, and the discharge roller 20 based on the secondary paper feed start request. Is controlled at a predetermined timing, and the output paper 15 is sent to the printing means 14. As a result, an image is printed on the output paper 15 by the printing unit 14, and the printed output paper 15 is subjected to processing such as fixing and pressure bonding by the fixing roller 19 and discharged by the discharge roller 20.

Next, an example of the operation of the image forming apparatus 10 configured as described above will be described with reference to FIG. 3A shows the scanner unit 11, FIG. 3B shows the print control unit 12, and FIG. 3C shows the paper feed control unit 13.
First, as shown in FIG. 3A, the scanner unit 11 determines whether or not reading of a document is started in step S1, and if it is determined that the reading has started, the process proceeds to step S2, and the step In S2, a primary paper feed start request is transmitted. In step S3, it is determined whether or not the image editing process has ended. If it is determined that the image editing process has ended, the process proceeds to step S4, and a secondary paper feed start request is transmitted in step S4.

  As shown in FIG. 3B, the print control unit 12 determines whether or not a primary paper feed start request (step S2) from the scanner unit 11 has been received in step S11. In step S12, a primary paper feed start request is transmitted in step S12. In step S13, it is determined whether or not the secondary paper feed start request (step S4) from the scanner unit 11 has been received. If it is determined that the request has been received, the process proceeds to step S14, and the secondary paper feed is performed in step S14. Send a paper feed start request.

  As shown in FIG. 3C, the paper feed control means 13 determines whether or not a primary paper feed start request (step S12) is received from the print control means 12 in step S21. Then, the process proceeds to step S22. In step S22, the drive circuit of the feed roller 17 is controlled to perform primary paper feed processing for causing the output paper 15 to reach the registration roller 18 from the paper feed cassette 16, and the output paper. 15 is put on standby at the registration roller 18 position.

  Next, in step S23, it is determined whether or not a secondary paper feed start request (step S14) from the print control unit 12 has been received. If it is determined that it has been received, the process proceeds to step S24. In step S24, the drive circuits of the registration roller 18, the fixing roller 19 and the discharge roller 20 are controlled at a predetermined timing, and the output paper 15 is sent from the registration roller 18 to the printing unit 14, and after the printing process, the fixing roller 19 and the discharge roller 20 are discharged. A secondary paper feed process is performed in which the paper is discharged through the roller 20 or the like.

  If a paper jam is detected after the secondary paper feed is started in step S25, the process proceeds to step S26. In step S26, the liquid crystal display means (not shown) of the image forming apparatus is in a paper jam state. At the same time, the printing process of the printing unit 14 is stopped.

Next, the results of comparing the first copy time by calculation for the example of the present invention (FIG. 2) and the conventional example (FIG. 4) are shown. The transmission time of the primary paper feed start request and the secondary paper feed start request is set to 0.
First, in the conventional example shown in the sequence diagram of FIG. 4, first copy time = reading time + image editing time + primary paper feeding time + secondary paper feeding time.

  On the other hand, in the example of the present invention shown in the sequence diagram of FIG. 2, when the primary paper feed time> (reading time + image editing time), the first copy time = primary paper feed time + secondary paper feed time. If time <(reading time + image editing time), first copy time = reading time + image editing time + secondary paper feeding time.

Here, when the primary paper feeding time> (reading time + image editing time), the reading time: 1000 [msec], the image editing time: 500 [msec], the primary paper feeding time: 2500 [msec], and the secondary paper feeding If the time is 2000 [msec], the first copy time in the conventional example is 1000 + 500 + 2500 + 2000 = 6000 [msec], and the first copy time in the present invention example is 2500 + 2000 = 4500 [msec]. Therefore, the first copy time is shortened by 1500 [msec] in the example of the present invention compared to the conventional example.
If primary paper feed time <(reading time + image editing time), scanning time: 1000 [msec], image editing time: 2000 [msec], primary paper feeding time: 2500 [msec], secondary paper feeding If the time is 2000 [msec], the conventional first copy time is 1000 + 2000 + 2500 + 2000 = 7500 [msec], and the first copy time of the example of the present invention is 1000 + 2000 + 2000 = 5000 [msec]. Therefore, the first copy time is shortened by 2500 [msec] in the example of the present invention compared to the conventional example.

As is apparent from the above description, in this embodiment, the scanner unit 11 transmits a primary paper feed start request to the print control unit 12 at the timing when the reading of the document is started, and the image editing process ends. Since the secondary paper feed start request is transmitted to the print control means 12 after this, the first copy speed is increased as compared with the conventional case where the primary paper feed start request is transmitted at the timing when the image editing process is completed. Can be significantly increased.
Further, since the paper jam detection process by the paper jam detection sensor 21 and the paper feed control means 13 is operated after the start of the secondary paper feed, erroneous detection of the paper jam at the position of the registration roller 18 is surely prevented. be able to.

The configuration of the printing means, scanner means, print control means, paper feed control means, output paper, paper feed cassette, registration roller, paper jam detection means, image editing processing function, etc. of the present invention is exemplified in the above embodiment. The present invention is not limited to those described above, and can be appropriately changed without departing from the scope of the present invention.
For example, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the scanner unit 11 transmits a primary paper feed start request to the print control unit 12 at the timing when the reading of the document is started is exemplified to greatly increase the first copy speed. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the scanner unit 11 may transmit a primary paper feed start request to the print control unit 12 at an arbitrary timing from the start of reading a document to the end of the read image editing process. Good.

1 is a block diagram for explaining an image forming apparatus as an example of an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram for explaining the operation of the image forming apparatus. FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the image forming apparatus, where (a) is a diagram showing the operation of the scanner unit, (b) is a diagram showing the operation of the print control unit, and (c) is a paper feed control unit. It is a figure which shows operation | movement in. It is a sequence diagram for explaining the operation of a conventional image forming apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Image forming apparatus 11 Scanner means 12 Print control means 13 Paper feed control means 14 Printing means 15 Output paper 16 Paper feed cassette 18 Registration roller 21 Paper jam detection sensor (paper jam detection means)

Claims (3)

Scanner means having an original reading processing function for optically reading an original, an image editing processing function for editing the read image, and transmitting a paper feed start request to a printing means for printing the image; ,
Print control means for receiving the paper feed start request from the scanner means and transmitting the paper feed start request;
In response to receiving the paper feed start request from the print control means, and based on the paper feed start request, primary paper feed processing for causing the output paper to reach the registration roller from the paper feed cassette and the output paper from the registration roller Paper feed control means for performing secondary paper feed processing to be discharged through the printing means;
A paper jam detecting means for detecting a paper jam at the registration roller position,
The scanner means transmits a primary paper feed start request between the start of reading the document and the end of the image editing process, and after the image editing process is completed, the secondary paper feed start request Send
The paper feed control means starts the secondary paper feed process upon receiving the secondary paper feed start request,
The image forming apparatus, wherein the paper jam detecting unit is operated after the secondary paper feeding process is started to detect a paper jam. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the scanner unit transmits the primary paper feed start request when the document reading starts. Wherein said image editing processing functions of the scanner means, expansion of at least the image, the image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it has a reduced processing function and rotation processing function.

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