JPH0820471A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve usage feeling and operability of a user by changing setting of allocation of discharge devices by the function and the group by time. CONSTITUTION:Trays 1109, 1110. 1111 are normally set for copying, facsimile, and printer format part respectively, and at nighttime or the like during which copying is not used much, they are set for facsimile, printer format, and copying respective. A normal time zone is set as a time zone A, a nighttime zone is set as a time zone B, and trays 1109, 1110, 1111 are called as a bin 1, a bin 2, a bin 3 respectively. then when printing action is started, a copy, not of a sorting function, in the time zone A, is outputted to the bin 1, while facsimile and printer format part are outputted to the bin 2 and the bin 3 respectively. In the time zone B, facsimile, printer format part, and copying are outputted to the bin 1, the bin 2, and the bin 3 respectively. In the case of using the sorting function, copies are outputted to the sorting trays 1112 to 1116.

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 having a digital image processing section having a scanner section and a printer section, which is connected to an external apparatus, and having functions such as copying, printing, and faxing.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an external device is connected to a digital image processing unit having a scanner unit and a printer unit, and has a function of inputting and outputting images such as a copy, a printer, and a FAX, and outputs each function. An image forming apparatus has been proposed that includes a paper discharge processing device that sorts sheets.

[0003]

In such a conventional image forming apparatus, since the discharging device for sorting the output according to the function is mounted, the setting of the allocation of the discharging device for each function and group is further performed. By switching by time,
For example, the user's feeling of use can be improved by discharging the fax to the uppermost stage that is easy to take out only during the time when a large amount of FAX is transmitted.

However, in the conventional image forming apparatus,
The structure for that has not been realized. The present invention aims to achieve this.

[0005]

An image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes an image signal input means for inputting an image signal, and an image on a recording medium based on the image signal input by the image signal input means. Image forming means for forming, ejecting means for ejecting the recording medium to any of a plurality of ejecting parts, ejecting allocation setting means capable of setting a plurality of kinds of allocation of ejecting parts corresponding to attributes, and the image-formed recording It has a discharge position control means for discharging the medium to the discharge portion designated by the discharge allocation setting means, and a time detection means for detecting the time, and according to the detection result of the time detection means,
One is selected from a plurality of types of allocation of the ejection units set by the ejection allocation setting means, and the ejection unit of the recording medium is controlled according to the selected allocation.

[0006]

【Example】

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the arrangement of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, 1 is an image input device for converting a document into image data (hereinafter referred to as a reader section), 2 has plural kinds of recording paper cassettes, and image data is visible on the recording paper by a print command. An image output device (hereinafter, referred to as a printer) 3 for outputting as an image is an external device electrically connected to the reader unit 1 and has various functions. That is, the external device 3 is connected to the fax unit 4, the file unit 5, and the file unit 5, and the external storage device 6 is connected.
A computer interface unit 7 for connecting to a computer and a LAN, a formatter unit 8 for converting information from the computer into a visible image, information from the reader unit 1, and temporary storage of information sent from the computer. An image memory unit 9 for storing the data, a core unit 10 for controlling each of the above functions, and the like are provided.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing the construction of the reader unit 1 and the printer unit 2. The configuration and operation thereof will be described below with reference to FIG.

The originals stacked on the original feeding device 101 are sequentially conveyed one by one onto the original table glass surface 102. When the original is conveyed to a predetermined position on the glass surface 102,
The lamp 103 of the scanner unit is turned on, and the scanner unit 104 moves to illuminate the document. The reflected light of the original is
CCD image sensor unit (hereinafter referred to as CCD) 10 via mirrors 105, 106, 107 and lens 108
9 is input. The reflected light or transmitted light of the document with which the CCD 109 is irradiated is photoelectrically converted here. The converted electric signal is sent to the image processing unit 110.

In the image processing section 110, image processing set by various operation sections is performed. Further, it has an image memory and also has a function of rotating the image output direction. Regarding the rotation of the image, the formatter unit 8 performs the same method as described later.

The external switching circuit is a selector that switches a signal from the reader unit 1 to the printer unit 2 or the external device 3. In addition, the signal from the reader unit 1 and the external device 3
It also functions to connect to the printer unit 2 by selecting one of the signals from.

In the external switching circuit of the image processing section 110, the electric signal connected to the printer section 2 is converted into an optical signal modulated by the exposure control section 201 to be converted into a photoconductor 202.
Is irradiated. The latent image formed on the photoconductor 202 by the irradiation light is developed by the developing device 203. The transfer paper is conveyed from the transfer paper stacking unit 204 or 205 in synchronization with the leading edge of the developed image, and the developed image is transferred at the transfer unit 206. The transferred image is fixed on the transfer paper by the fixing unit 207, and then discharged from the paper output unit 208 to the outside of the apparatus. The transfer paper output from the paper output unit 208 is passed to the sorter 220.

The control of the sorter 220 will be described with reference to FIG. When the sorting function is working, the flapper 1102 to the flapper 1108 are controlled so that the sorting tray 1112 to the tray 1116 are sequentially discharged, and the tray is output to each tray. When the sort function is not working, basically, the tray 1109 is discharged to the top bin of the sorter, but the tray 1109 is set by the user setting not shown.
By assigning the trays 1111 to 1111 for each function to be operated, the trays 1111 can be discharged to the assigned tray.

Next, a method for outputting sequentially read images on both sides of one output sheet will be described. Fixing unit 207
The output sheet fixed in (1) is once conveyed to the sheet discharge section 208, and then the sheet conveyance direction is reversed, and the sheet is conveyed to the re-feed transfer target sheet stacking section 210 via the conveyance direction switching member 209. When the next original is prepared, the original image is read in the same manner as the above process, but since the transfer paper is fed from the re-transferred transfer paper stacking section 210, the surface of the same output paper is ended up. , Two document images can be output on the back side.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the operation panel in the reader unit 1. In FIG. 3, reference numeral 301 denotes a display unit that displays operating states and messages. The surface of the display unit 301 is a touch panel, and the touch of the surface serves as a selection key. A numeral key 302 is a key for inputting numbers. Reference numeral 303 denotes a start key, and the operation is started by pressing the key.

Next, the operation will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 4 to 9.

First, in FIG. 4, after the power is turned on, initialization is performed (S401). Operation panel display unit 301
The operation mode selection key is displayed on, and the mode is selected by touching the panel above the selection key. It is determined whether the selected mode is the copy mode (S40
2) In the copy mode, jump to step A. When the copy mode is not selected, it is judged whether it is the fax transmission mode (S403), and when it is the fax transmission mode, the process jumps to step B. When the fax transmission mode is not selected, it is determined whether it is the file mode (S404), and when it is the file mode, the process jumps to step C. When the file mode is not selected, it is determined whether the input mode is from the computer interface (S405). When the input mode is from the computer interface, the process jumps to step D. When the input mode from the computer interface is not detected, it is determined whether it is the fax reception mode (S406), and when it is the fuck reception mode, jump to step E. When the fax reception mode is not detected, it is judged whether it is the copy mode (S4).
02), the selection mode determination from S402 to S406 is repeated.

When the copy mode is selected in the determination of S402 shown in FIG. 4, the flow shown in FIG. 5 is started. The key input from the operation panel is read, and the input of the start key 303 is awaited (S501). Next, when the start key is pressed, it is determined whether the printer is operating (S
502). If the printer is not operating, the process proceeds to S505. If the printer is operating, it is determined in step S503 whether the sorter of the sheet discharge unit is sorted according to the processing function and a sheet that can be discharged is mounted. If the functions can be sorted, the process proceeds to S504. If the functions cannot be sorted, the process proceeds to S504.
At 511, a display indicating that the printer is in the process of outputting is started after the end is displayed on the operation panel, waits for the end of the output of the printer (S512), and after the printing is completed, the process proceeds to S505.

In the processing of S504, the setting for temporarily suspending other processing of copying using the printer is performed. continue,
When a copy condition set by the operation unit and a discharge device capable of sorting by function are installed, a copy discharge position specified in a user mode (not shown) is set (S505). Then, the document is read (S50
6), the printing (S507) is repeated by a predetermined number of sheets or a predetermined number of copies, and it is judged whether or not the copying is completed (S508). When the copying is completed, the processing of S509 is performed. In the process of S509, if there is a process suspended in the process of S504, S
The print output is set to be restarted in the processing of 510, and this processing ends. When finished, the process returns to S401 in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart when the fax transmission mode is selected.

First, the fax transmission initialization setting is performed (S601), and the key 30 input from the operation panel is set.
Read 1,302 and set the fax transmission conditions (S
602) and waits for the input of the start key 303 (S60
3). When the start key is pressed, the document is read from the reader unit 1 (S604) and the image data is sent to the fax unit 4
Send to The fax unit 4 performs fax transmission according to the set format and the determined protocol (S60).
5). After the transmission is completed, the process returns to the initial setting (S401).

FIG. 7 is a flow chart when the file mode is selected.

First, initialization of file operation is set (S701), mode selection of file recording or search is displayed on the operation panel, and key input is awaited (S702). When the recording key is selected, the recording condition is set (S7
03), read the document from the reader unit 1 (S704),
The data is sent to the file section 5 and recorded in the external storage device 6 of the file (S705). When the file search key is selected in S702, search condition setting is performed (S7
06), the file is searched from the external storage device 6 (S707), and the result is output. After the recording or the search is completed, the process returns to the initial setting (S401).

FIG. 8 is a flow chart when command data is input to the computer interface from the outside.

First, the command is accepted by the computer interface (S801), the data is sent to the formatter unit 8 via the core unit 10 for interpretation, and the information is expanded in the bit map memory (S802). Then, S803
In the process (1), it is determined whether the printer is in operation and waits until the operation is completed. When the operation ends, select the appropriate paper,
Paper feeding is started (S804). Paper cassette 20
Paper is fed from 4, 205 and moves to the transfer position 206. Here, the image developed in the bitmap memory in the process of S802 is rotated and read by a method described later according to the information such as the orientation and size of the paper. The read image information is sent to the exposure control unit 201 and printed (S805). At the time of printing, when a paper discharge device capable of sorting by function is attached, information such as the paper discharge position of the printer specified in the user mode (not shown) is sent and printed. The printing part is common to each operation described so far. Then, after data output, initial setting (S401)
Return to

Next, a method of rotating and reading an image will be described with reference to FIG. The image developed in the bitmap memory in the process of S802 is as shown in FIG. This development example is an example of A4 size, and the number of pixels is 4622 for vertical 297 mm, and the number of pixels is 32 for horizontal 210 mm.
96 bitmap memory. First, when reading without rotating, as shown in FIG.
Reading is performed in the order of 0,4622,1,0 → 1,4622. In addition, when reading by rotating 180 degrees,
As shown in 0 (b), contrary to the case of FIG.
6,4622 → 3296,0, 3295,4622 → 3
By sequentially reading in the directions of 295 and 0, it is possible to rotate and output 180 degrees. Further, in the case of reading by rotating by -90 degrees, as shown in FIG. 10C, the reading directions are changed vertically and horizontally, and 0,4622 → 3296,4622,0,462.
By sequentially reading in the direction of 1 → 3296 and 4621, it is possible to rotate and output by −90 °. Further, in the case of reading by rotating 90 degrees, as shown in FIG. 10D, the reading directions are vertically and horizontally interchanged, and 3296,0 → 0,0,3296,
By sequentially reading in the direction of 1 → 0, 1, the image can be rotated by 90 degrees and output. Although not shown, such rotation control is configured in the formatter unit 8.

FIG. 9 is a flow chart when a fax is received. First, fax reception is performed by the fax unit 4 (S901), and it is determined whether the printer unit 2 is operating (S902). If not, data is sent to the printer unit 2 and printed (S903). . At the time of printing, if a paper discharge device capable of sorting by function is installed, the FA specified in the user mode (not shown)
Information such as the X discharge position is sent and printing is performed. If S9
If the printer unit 2 is operating in 02, it is stored in the hard disk of the fax unit 4 (S904), and is printed out when the printer unit 2 is not operating (S9).
02, S903). After printing, make initial settings (S40
Return to 1).

The above modes are selected by the selection key 30 on the operation panel.
The operation is performed by selecting 1 or receiving by the fax unit 4, or by detecting an external command at the computer interface unit 7.

Note that some of these operations can be operated in combination at the same time, and some can be operated independently at the same time. The core unit 10 controls the setting of the priority order.

Next, the operation of changing the allocation of the discharge trays according to the time zone will be described with reference to FIG. For example,
The trays 1109, 1110, and 1111 in FIG. 11 are normally set to copy, fax, and printer formats, respectively, and at night when the copy is not often used,
It is assumed that fax, printer formatter, and copy are set, respectively. Normal time zone is time zone A,
Assuming that the nighttime is B, the tray 1109 is called 1 bin, the tray 1110 is called 2 bins, and the tray 1111 is called 3 bins, when the printing operation is started (S120).
1) The time zone is determined (S1202), and in the time zone A, the copy output without the sorting function is output to 1 bin, the fax output is output to 2 bins, and the print formatter output is output to 3 bins (S1204). When the print operation is started, if the time zone is B, the fax output is 1
The print formatter output is output to the bin 2, the copy output is output to the bin 3, and the copy output is output to the bin 3 (S1203).

When the sorting function is used, the sorting tray 1112 to the sorting tray 1116 are used for output (S1205).

(Embodiment 2) In Embodiment 1 above, only two kinds of time zones, A and B, have been described, but the same operation may be performed even if three or more time zones are set.

Further, in the first embodiment, the discharge trays are assigned by the functions such as copy, fax, printer formatter, etc. However, the users who use the image forming apparatus are grouped and the discharge trays are assigned for each group, and the time is set. Depending on the band, it is possible to change the output tray allocation of the group.

It is also possible to change the function or group according to the time zone.

[0035]

As described above, according to the present invention,
With the above-described configuration, by switching the setting of the function and the allocation of the discharge device for each group according to the time, it is possible to set the discharge device to the uppermost stage that is easy to take out only during the time period when the FAX is transmitted, for example. Therefore, the usability and operability of the user can be improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall view of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a reader unit and a printer unit in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of an operation panel of the reader unit shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is an operation flowchart of the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a copy operation according to the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of fax transmission according to the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart for recording or searching a file according to the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart for printing from the external interface according to the embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart for receiving a fax in the embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining an image rotation method according to the embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the structure of the discharge device of the embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart in the case of changing the discharge tray according to the time zone in the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 image input device (reader section) 2 image output device (printer) 3 external device

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Yoshiyuki Suzuki 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Minor Nada 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Non-Incorporated (72) Inventor Akiyoshi Kimura 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Kenji Kobayashi 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Shinichi Nakamura 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Noriyuki Miyake 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Satoru Eda 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Nao Suzuki 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Non Inc. (72) Inventor Satoshi Kaneko 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An image signal input unit for inputting an image signal, an image forming unit for forming an image on a recording medium based on the image signal input by the image signal input unit, and a plurality of discharging units for the recording medium. To a discharge unit designated by the discharge allocation setting unit, and a discharge allocation setting unit capable of setting a plurality of kinds of discharge unit allocations corresponding to attributes, and the discharge unit specified by the discharge allocation setting unit. The discharge position control means for controlling the time, and the time detection means for detecting the time, and based on the detection result of the time detection means,
An image forming apparatus, characterized in that one is selected from a plurality of types of allocation of the ejection unit set by the ejection allocation setting unit, and the ejection unit of the recording medium is controlled by the selected allocation.