JPH09200401A - Digital copier - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Problem] Convenience when using the interrupt copy function
Improve workability. SOLUTION: A main controller 401 (not shown) which is an interrupt copy control means is placed in a document reading standby position of an ADF 101 (not shown) when an interrupt key is pressed in the interrupt processing control (flow chart). It is determined whether or not there is a document waiting (S100
3) If there is a document on standby, the image of the document on standby is read, the read image is stored in a predetermined memory (S1004), and then the interrupt copy operation is performed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic document feeder and a digital copying machine having an interrupt copy function, and more particularly, convenience and work when an interrupt copy occurs during use of the automatic document feeder. The present invention relates to a digital copying apparatus having improved property.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, digital copying machines have become multifunctional from the viewpoint of improving user convenience and workability. For example, an automatic document feeder (hereinafter referred to as AD).
A device provided with (F) is becoming popular. A
A digital copier equipped with a DF automatically feeds a bundle of documents placed on the ADF platen to the document reading position on the contact glass, and reads the image of the document (hereinafter referred to as the document image). When is completed, the sheet is discharged to a predetermined sheet discharge tray or the like.

Further, in a digital copying apparatus equipped with an ADF, in order to more efficiently perform a document reading operation, a plurality of documents placed on a document table are fed one by one to a document reading position. There is also provided a document which is fed and the next document is fed to the document reading standby position in advance.

Other functions include a double-sided copy function for copying on both sides of a document or transfer paper, an interrupt copy function for interrupt copying during copying, and inputting and transferring a plurality of document images. There is an aggregate copy function that creates an aggregate image for one sheet of paper and records it on one sheet of transfer paper.

[0005]

However, in the conventional digital copying apparatus equipped with the ADF, the type in which the next original is fed to the original reading standby position in advance is as follows.
When the user presses the interrupt key to perform the interrupt copy function while continuously feeding the document using the ADF, the document to be read, that is, the document at the document reading standby position is not read. ， Because it is ejected as it is, when restarting the copy operation before interrupt copying after the interrupt copy function ends, the user has to return the document that has not been read and is ejected to the platen, which is convenient and easy to work with. There was a problem that was bad.

Further, for example, if the interrupt copy function is used during the operation of the aggregate copy function or the double-sided copy function,
When the user presses the interrupt key, the original image that has been read up to that point is cleared and the interrupt copy operation is started, so the user considers the copy function in use and has already completed reading the original image. It is necessary to press the interrupt key while grasping the status that the copy is finished, or to check the document that has not been copied after the interrupt copy is completed and read the document again.
There was a problem that workability was poor.

The present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object thereof is to improve the convenience and workability when using the interrupt copy function.

[0008]

To achieve the above object, a digital copying apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention feeds a plurality of documents placed on a document table one by one to a document reading position. , An automatic document feeding unit that feeds the next document in advance to the document reading standby position, an image reading unit that reads an image of the document fed to the document reading position by the automatic document feeding unit, and an image reading unit that reads the image. A digital copying apparatus comprising storage means for storing an image and interrupt copy control means for starting interrupt copy control when an interrupt key for requesting interrupt copy is pressed. When the interrupt key is pressed, it is determined whether there is a document waiting in the document reading standby position. If there is a document waiting, the automatic document feeding is performed. And controlling means and the image reading means reads an image of an original document in the waiting, after the read image has been stored in the storage means is for transition to the interrupt copying operation.

Further, the digital copying apparatus according to the second aspect feeds a plurality of originals placed on the original table one by one to the original reading position, and also feeds the next original in advance to the original reading standby position. Automatic document feeding means, image reading means for reading an image of a document fed to the document reading position by the automatic document feeding means, storage means for storing the image read by the image reading means, and interrupt copy request In the digital copying apparatus provided with the interrupt copy control means for starting the interrupt copy control when the interrupt key is pressed, the original document fed by the automatic document feeding means and read by the image reading means is read. Counting means for counting the number of read sheets and reading for storing the number of read sheets counted by the counting means when the interrupt key is pressed When the interrupt copy operation by the number storage means and the interrupt copy control means is finished and the copy operation before the interrupt copy is restarted, the automatic document feeding means and the image reading means are controlled so that the original of the automatic document feeding means is controlled. The present invention further comprises a reading restart control means for feeding only the originals from all the originals on the table up to the number of read sheets stored in the read number storage means and thereafter restarting the reading operation of the remaining originals.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in a digital copying apparatus, an automatic document feeding unit for feeding a plurality of documents placed on a document table one by one to a document reading position, and the document reading by the automatic document feeding unit. Image reading means for reading the image of the document fed to the position, and an aggregate image generating means for inputting the images of the plurality of documents read by the image reading means to generate an aggregate image for one transfer sheet. In a digital copying apparatus including an interrupt copy control unit that starts interrupt copy control when an interrupt key for requesting interrupt copy is pressed, a storage unit that stores the aggregate image generated by the aggregate image generation unit is provided. The interrupt copy control means, when the interrupt key is pressed and the aggregate image generating means is generating the aggregate image, the automatic document feeding And controlling means and the image reading means, said generating a combined image of the transfer paper one sheet, after the generated combined image stored in the storage means is for transition to the interrupt copying operation.

Further, according to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in a digital copying apparatus, an automatic document feeding means for feeding a plurality of originals placed on a document table one by one to an original reading position, and an original reading by the automatic original feeding means. Image reading means for reading the image of the document fed to the position, and an aggregate image generating means for inputting the images of the plurality of documents read by the image reading means to generate an aggregate image for one transfer sheet. In a digital copying apparatus including an interrupt copy control unit that starts interrupt copy control when an interrupt key for requesting interrupt copy is pressed, a storage unit that stores the aggregate image generated by the aggregate image generation unit is provided. If the interrupted image is generated by the aggregated image generation means when the interrupted key is pressed, the interrupted copy control means collects the aggregated image being generated. After saving the image in the storage means, the operation proceeds to the interrupt copy operation, and after the interrupt copy operation is completed, the aggregate image being generated and stored in the storage means is returned to the aggregate image generating means, and the aggregate image is generated. Is restarted.

[0012]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, a digital copying apparatus of the present invention will be described in detail in the order of [First Embodiment], [Second Embodiment], [Third Embodiment], and [Fourth Embodiment] with reference to the drawings. explain.

[First Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a digital copying apparatus according to a first embodiment. Automatic document feeder (hereinafter referred to as AD
A document bundle (not shown) placed with the image (hereinafter referred to as document image) surface of the document on the document table 102 of the (F) 101 is the print key 2 on the operation unit 201 described later.
When 02 is pressed, the lowermost original is fed by the feeding roller 103.
And the contact belt 10 by the feeding belt 104.
The sheet is fed to a predetermined document reading position on the sheet 5.

The original fed on the contact glass 105 has its original image read by the reading unit 106, and then the feeding belt 104 and the discharging roller 107.
Discharged by. Further, a document set detection sensor 1
If it is detected at 08 that the next document is present on the document table 102, the next document repeats the same operation as the previous document.
Note that the feed roller 103, the feed belt 104, and the discharge roller 107 are driven by a transport motor 408 (see FIG. 4) described later.

In the digital copying apparatus of the first embodiment, when a manuscript is continuously read in order to speed up the reading speed, that is, while the next manuscript is being read, the contact glass 105 of the contact glass 105 is read. The sheet is fed to the front side (original reading standby position).

Further, the first tray 109 and the second tray 11
The transfer paper stacked on the first and third trays 111 is the first
Paper feed unit 112, second paper feed unit 113, and third paper feed unit 11
4 and is transported by the vertical transport unit 115 to a position where it contacts the photoconductor 116. The document image read by the reading unit 106 is written as image data on the photoconductor 116 by a laser (not shown) from the writing unit 117, and is visualized as a toner image by the developing unit 118.

Next, the toner image on the photoconductor 116 is transferred while the transfer paper is transported by the transport belt 119 at the same speed as the rotation of the photoconductor 116. The toner image transferred onto the transfer paper is fixed as an image by the fixing unit 120. Subsequently, the transfer paper on which the image has been fixed (hereinafter, referred to as an image forming) is discharged by a paper discharge unit 121 to a finisher 122 which is a post-processing device.

The finisher 122 of the post-processing device transfers the transfer paper conveyed by the paper discharge unit 121 of the main body of the device.
Output tray 126 direction and staple processing unit (lower left of drawing)
Can be guided in the direction. The guiding at this time is performed using the switching plate 124. By switching the switching plate 124 upward, paper can be discharged to the paper discharge tray 126 side via the paper discharge roller 123 and the carry roller unit 132. By switching the switching plate 124 downward, the sheet can be conveyed to the staple table 128 via the conveying rollers 125 and 127.

The transfer sheets stacked on the stapling table 128 are aligned in sheet end surfaces by a sheet aligning jogger 129 every time a sheet is discharged, and are stapled by a stapler 130 when a copy is completed. The transfer paper group bound by the stapler 130 is stored in the stapling completion paper discharge tray 131 by its own weight.

On the other hand, the normal paper discharge tray 126 is a paper discharge tray that can be moved back and forth. A discharge tray 126 that can be moved back and forth is provided for each document or for an image memory 5 described later.
The copy paper which is moved back and forth for each part of the copy sorted by 01 and is simply discharged is sorted.

When images are formed on both sides of the transfer paper, the first tray 109, the second tray 110 and the third tray 1 are used.
The transfer paper fed from 11 and imaged is transferred to a discharge tray 126.
By setting the branch claw 133 for path switching to the upper side without guiding to the side,
To stock.

After that, the transfer paper stocked in the double-sided paper feeding unit 134 is fed again from the double-sided paper feeding unit 134 to transfer the toner image formed on the photoconductor 116, and then branched for path switching. By setting the claw 133 on the lower side, it is guided to the paper discharge tray 126. As described above, the duplex paper feeding unit 134 is used when forming images on both sides of the transfer paper.

The photoconductor 116, the conveyor belt 119, the fixing unit 120, the paper discharge unit 121 and the developing unit 118 are driven by a main motor 403 (see FIG. 4) which will be described later, and the first paper feeding section 112 and the second paper feeding are performed. Part 113
The third paper supply unit 114 is driven by transmitting the drive of the main motor 403 by a first paper supply clutch 404, a second paper supply clutch 405, and a third paper supply clutch 406 (see FIG. 4), respectively. Is done. The vertical transport unit 115 is driven by transmitting the drive of the main motor 403 by an intermediate clutch 407 (see FIG. 4).

Next, the image reading operation in the image reading unit 106 and the writing unit 11
7 will be described.

First, the reading unit 106 comprises a contact glass 105 on which a document is placed and an optical scanning system. The optical scanning system includes an exposure lamp 135, a first
Mirror 136, lens 137, CCD image sensor 1
38, a second mirror 139, a third mirror 140, and the like. Exposure lamp 135 and first mirror 13
6 is fixed on a first carriage (not shown),
The mirror 139 and the third mirror 140 are fixed on a second carriage (not shown). When reading a document image, the first carriage and the second carriage are mechanically scanned at a relative speed of 2: 1 so that the optical path length does not change. This optical scanning system is driven by a scanner drive motor (not shown).

The original image is read by the CCD image sensor 138, converted into an electric signal and processed. Lens 137 and CCD image sensor 13
The image magnification is changed by moving 8 in the left-right direction (in FIG. 1). That is, the lens 137 and the CCD image sensor 138 correspond to the designated magnification.
The position is set in the left-right direction.

The writing unit 117 comprises a laser output unit 141, an image forming lens 142 and a mirror 143. Inside the laser output unit 141, a laser diode (not shown) which is a laser light source and a motor (not shown). ), A rotary polygon mirror (hereinafter, referred to as a polygon mirror, not shown) that rotates at a constant speed at a high speed is provided.

The laser light emitted by the laser output unit 141 is polarized by a polygon mirror that rotates at a constant speed, passes through an imaging lens 142, is reflected by a mirror 143, and is focused and imaged on the surface of the photoconductor 116. .

The polarized laser light is exposed and scanned in the direction (main scanning direction) orthogonal to the direction in which the photoconductor 116 rotates, and the selector 502 of the image processing unit 402 described later is used.
(See FIG. 5) The recording of the image signal output from each line is performed. By repeating the main scanning at a predetermined cycle corresponding to the rotation speed and the recording density of the photoconductor 116, an image (electrostatic latent image) is formed on the surface of the photoconductor 116.

As described above, the photoconductor 116 is irradiated with the laser light output from the writing unit 117.
A beam sensor (not shown) that generates a main scanning synchronization signal is arranged at a position near one end of the photoconductor 116 where the laser beam is irradiated. Based on the main scanning synchronization signal, control of image recording start timing in the main scanning direction and generation of a control signal for inputting and outputting an image signal described later are performed.

Next, the configuration of the operation unit 201 will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIG.
01 includes a print key 202 which is a start key, a clear / stop key 203, a ten key 204, a liquid crystal display 205, an initial setting key 207, a mode clear key 208 and an interrupt key 209. The liquid crystal display 205 has a touch panel 206 on its surface.
Are used for displaying various messages indicating the number of copies and the status of the device, and for inputting various information.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a display screen example of the liquid crystal display 205 of the operation unit 201. When the user presses the touch panel 206 to select any one of the parts displayed on the liquid crystal display 205, the digital copying apparatus executes the selected function. Also,
The key selected by pressing the touch panel 206 is displayed in reverse color to indicate to the user that the function is selected. Also, in various functions, for example,
When it is necessary to make detailed settings such as a variable magnification ratio, a setting screen for the detailed function corresponding to the key is displayed after the necessary key is pressed. Since the dot display is used as the liquid crystal display 205 in the first embodiment, the optimum display at that time can be graphically performed. In the first embodiment, a dot display is used as the liquid crystal display 205, but it is not limited to this.

Next, the control system of the digital copying apparatus of the first embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 shows a control system of the digital copying machine. As shown in the figure, each unit is arranged around a main controller 401 which controls the entire digital copying machine. Main controller 401
Includes an IPU (image processing unit) 402 and an ADF 10
1, each unit that performs distributed control, such as the operation unit 201, is connected. The IPU 402 is a reading unit 10
6 and the like, control of writing a document image in an image memory 501 described later, control of forming a document image from the image memory 501, and the like.
In the drawing, reference numeral 408 denotes a transport motor of the ADF 101.

As necessary, the respective units for distributed control and the main controller 401 exchange the state of the digital copying apparatus, operation commands, and the like. Further, as shown in the figure, the main controller 401 includes a main motor 403, a first paper feed clutch 404, a main motor 403 required for paper conveyance,
The second paper feed clutch 405, the third paper feed clutch 406, and the intermediate clutch 407 are connected, and the main controller 401 also controls the drive of each of the above clutches.

Next, the configuration of the IPU (image processing unit) 402 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. The image data (analog signal) input by photoelectric conversion by the CCD image sensor 138 of the reading unit 106 is
After being converted into a digital signal by the A / D converter 503 and subjected to shading correction by the shading correction circuit 504, MTF / γ correction circuit 505 performs MTF / γ correction processing and the like.

The selector 502 is the MTF / γ correction circuit 5
The image data input from 05 is switched to either the scaling circuit 506 or the image memory controller 507. The image data that has passed through the scaling circuit 506 is scaled according to the scaling rate, and the writing unit 1
It is sent to 17.

On the other hand, between the image memory controller 507 and the selector 502, image data can be input / output bidirectionally. Although not specifically shown in FIG. 5,
In addition to the image data input from the reading unit 106, the IPU 402 can process image data externally supplied via the I / O port 511, for example, data input from a data processing device such as a personal computer. It is assumed to have a function of selecting input / output of a plurality of data.

The IPU 402 also sets a CPU 508 for setting various kinds of information (commands) to the image memory controller 507 and controlling the reading unit 106 and the writing unit 117, a ROM 509 storing programs and data for the CPU 508, and RAM51
0. Further, the CPU 508 can write or read data in the image memory 501 via the image memory controller 507.

Next, referring to FIG. 6, the image data for one page in the selector 502 will be described in detail. FIG. 6 is a timing chart of image data for one page. Frame gate signal (hereinafter, / FGATE)
Represents the effective period of one page of image data in the sub-scanning direction. Main scanning synchronization signal (hereinafter, / LSYN
(Denoted as C) is for each line, and the image data becomes valid at a predetermined clock after / LSYNC rises.

A signal indicating that the image data in the main scanning direction is valid is a line gate signal (hereinafter, / LGATE).
Is written). These / FGATE, / LSYNC and / LGATE are synchronized with a pixel synchronization signal (hereinafter referred to as VCLK), and data of one pixel is sent for one cycle of VCLK.

Although not described in detail, the IPU4
02 is a separate / FGATE, / LSYNC, / LGATE and VC for each of image input and image output.
The LK generation mechanism is provided, and various image input / output combinations can be realized by performing phase adjustment or the like when directly outputting a read original image (image data).

Next, the image memory controller 507 and the image memory 501 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 7 and 5. FIG. 7 shows the image memory controller 5.
It is the figure which showed the detailed structure of 07 and the image memory 501. The image memory controller 507 includes an input data selector 701, an image composition unit 702, and a primary compression / decompression unit 7.
03, output data selector 704, secondary compression / expansion unit 7
05. The setting of control data for each of the above parts
It is performed by the CPU 508. The addresses and data shown in FIG. 5 are the addresses and data of the image data, and the data and addresses of the control data connected to the CPU 508 are omitted.

The image memory 501 is composed of a primary storage unit 706 and a secondary storage unit 707. Primary storage unit 70
6 is a high-speed access to, for example, a DRAM or the like so that writing to the image memory 501 or reading from the image memory 501 at the time of image output can be performed at high speed in synchronization with the transfer speed of input image data. Use the one that is. The primary storage unit 706 is configured to divide into a plurality of areas according to the size of image data to be processed and to simultaneously execute input / output of image data (not shown, interface unit with memory controller 507). ) Is taken.

The secondary storage unit 707 is a large-capacity memory for storing data for combining and sorting input images. If both the primary storage unit 706 and the secondary storage unit 707 use high-speed accessible elements,
Although data processing can be performed without distinction between the primary storage unit 706 and the secondary storage unit 707, and the control of the image memory controller 507 is relatively simple, elements such as DRAM are expensive, so the primary storage unit The access speed of 706 is set to a high speed, and processing of input / output data is performed. Note that, as with the primary storage unit 706, the secondary storage unit 707 has D
Of course, a high speed element such as a RAM may be used.

By configuring the image memory 501 with the primary storage unit 706 and the secondary storage unit 707 as described above, a digital copying apparatus capable of inputting / outputting, storing, and processing a large amount of image data is inexpensive. And, it can be realized with a relatively simple configuration. It should be noted that the aggregated images in the aggregated copy function are stored in the primary storage unit 706 side by side in a format for writing a plurality of original images on one transfer sheet.

Next, the general operation of the image memory controller 507 will be described. First, image input when image data is stored in the image memory 501 will be described.
The input data selector 701 selects one from a plurality of data.
The image data to be written into the next storage unit 706 is selected.

The image data selected by the input data selector 701 is supplied to the image synthesizing unit 702 and is synthesized by the image synthesizing unit 702 with the data already stored in the image memory 501. The image data processed by the image combining unit 702 is subjected to data compression by a primary compression / decompression unit 703, and the compressed data is written to a primary storage unit 706. The data written in the primary storage unit 706 is stored in the secondary storage unit 707 after being further compressed by the secondary compression / decompression unit 705 as necessary.

Next, reading of image data from the image memory 501 will be described. At the time of image output, image data stored in the primary storage unit 706 is read. Even when the image to be output is stored in the primary storage unit 706, the primary compression / decompression unit 703 decompresses the image data in the primary storage unit 706 to obtain the decompressed data or the decompressed data. The data after the image composition of the input data and the data of is selected by the output data selector 704,
Output.

The image synthesizing unit 702 synthesizes the data in the primary storage unit 706 with the input data (has a function of adjusting the phase of the image data) and selects the output destination of the synthesized data (image output, primary storage). Processing such as write back to the unit 706 and simultaneous output to both output destinations) is performed.

When the image to be output is not stored in the primary storage unit 706, the output target image data stored in the secondary storage unit 707 is converted to the secondary compression / decompression unit 705.
After the data is expanded and written into the primary storage unit 706, the above-described image output operation is performed.

In the above configuration, the main operation of the digital copying apparatus, the key input event processing, the interrupt processing of the first embodiment, the copy operation restart processing after the interrupt of the first embodiment, the copy processing, and the effect of the first embodiment are in this order. The operation will be described in detail.

Main Operation of Digital Copying Apparatus FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the main operation of the digital copying apparatus of the first embodiment. When the power of the main body of the digital copying apparatus is turned on, the main controller 401 performs initialization processing of the digital copying apparatus (S801). Specifically, as initialization processing, various flags are reset, various counters are cleared, the image memory 501 is cleared, and image forming modes (magnification, division, etc.) are reset.

After the initialization process, the main controller 4
01 determines whether or not there is an event (some change factor) from a key input or an engine (IPU 402, ADF 101, etc.) of the main body of the digital copying apparatus (S80).
2) If there is no event, the process returns to step S802. If there is an event, it is further determined whether the event type is an engine event or a key input event (S).
803).

Here, an outline of the key input event process and the engine event process will be described. When the user operates the operation unit 201, the operation unit 201 notifies the main controller 401 as a key input event. Further, when the engine of the main body of the digital copying apparatus changes, for example, when a document is set on the ADF 101, the document set detection sensor 108 detects the setting of the document,
The main controller 401 is notified as an event.

Subsequently, when it is determined in step S803 that the type of event is an engine event, the IPU 402 performs engine event processing (S804) and returns to step S802. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S803 that the type of event is a key input event, the IPU 402 performs key input event processing (S805) and returns to step S802.

Key Input Event Processing Here, the key input event processing will be described in more detail with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The main controller 401 determines whether or not the print key 202 has been pressed (whether or not to start printing) (S901),
If it is pressed, copy processing is performed (S902).

On the other hand, in step S901, if the print key 202 is not pressed, the main controller 401 determines whether or not the interrupt key 209 is pressed (S903), and if it is pressed, interrupt processing is performed. (S904).

If the interrupt key 209 is not pressed in step S903, the main controller 401 determines whether a key other than the print key 202 and the interrupt key 209 is pressed (S90).
5) If pressed, the pressed key is processed (S906), and if not pressed, the process ends.

Interrupt Processing of First Embodiment Next, the interrupt processing of the first embodiment will be described. FIG.
0 shows a flowchart of the interrupt processing of the first embodiment. When the interrupt key 209 is pressed, the main controller 401 determines whether or not the document is currently being read (S1001). If the document is being read, the reading unit 106 continues the reading process as it is (S1001). S1002).

On the other hand, in step S1001, if the document is not being read, the main controller 401
Determines whether the document is waiting at the document reading standby position, S1003), and if it is waiting, causes the reading unit 106 to read the document at the document reading standby position (S1004). When the reading process ends, the process ends. If the document is not on standby, the process is terminated.

Further, in steps S1002 and S1004, the document image read by the reading unit 106 is stored in the primary storage unit 706 or the secondary storage unit 707, and is read out and transferred at the start of a copy operation after an interrupt described later. Write on paper.

Copy Operation Resume Processing After Interrupt of Embodiment 1 Next, the copy operation restart processing after an interrupt will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, the image memory controller 507 reads the image data stored in the primary storage unit 706 or the secondary storage unit 707 after the writing is interrupted by the interrupt copy (S
1101). Next, the main controller 401 restarts normal copy processing from the read image data (S
1102).

Copy Processing Next, the operation of the digital copying apparatus when the print key 202 is pressed will be described. FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the copy process. First, the main controller 401 determines whether or not it is in an interrupt mode for performing an interrupt (S1201), and if it is in the interrupt mode, performs an interrupt copy process (S1202) and ends the process.

On the other hand, in step S1201, if the interrupt mode is not set, the main controller 401
It is determined whether or not the copy operation after the interrupt is restarted (S1203), and if so, the above-described copy operation restart processing after the interrupt in FIG. 11 is performed (S1204),
The process ends.

If it is determined in step S1203 that the copy operation after the interrupt has not been resumed, that is, since the copy operation has not occurred after the interrupt, normal copy processing is performed (S1205), and the processing ends.

Effects of Embodiment 1 As described above, according to Embodiment 1, in a digital copying apparatus of the type in which the next original is fed to the original reading standby position in advance, the original is continuously fed using the ADF. When the user presses the interrupt key to perform the interrupt copy function, the original at the original reading standby position is read as well as the original being read, and after the read image data is saved, Since the transition to the interrupt copy operation is made, after restarting the interrupt copy (when restarting the copy operation before the interrupt copy), the user can continue the reading operation by resetting only the original on the platen. ， Improves operability when restarting. In other words, it is possible to improve the convenience and workability when using the interrupt copy function.

[Second Embodiment] In addition to the configuration of the first embodiment, the digital copying apparatus of the second embodiment has a main controller 40
1 is a sheet fed by the ADF 101 and a counting unit for counting the number of read sheets of the original read by the reading unit 106, and a reading for storing the number of read sheets counted by the counting unit when the interrupt key 209 is pressed. ADF 1 when the copy operation before the interrupt copy is finished after restarting the copy operation before the interrupt copy operation
01 and the reading unit 106 to control the ADF
The role of the reading restart control means for feeding only the originals from all the originals on the original table 102 of 101 to the number of read sheets stored in the read number storage means, and then restarting the reading operation of the remaining originals To fulfill.

The basic configuration and operation are the same as in the first embodiment.
Therefore, only different parts will be described here.

The main controller 401 is the ADF 10
When the reading unit 106 reads an image of an original from the original table 102 one by one, the original controller 102 feeds the original to the original reading position one by one.
A predetermined reading counter (not shown) provided therein is counted up to count the number of read sheets. The number of read sheets is cleared each time the print key 202 is pressed and starts counting from 0. In other words, the number of read sheets is counted from 0 for each copy job started by pressing the print key 202.

FIG. 13 shows a flowchart of the interrupt processing of the second embodiment. When the interrupt key 209 is pressed, the main controller 401 judges whether or not the original is being read (S1301), and the reading is performed. If it is in the middle, the reading process is continued for the reading unit 106 (S1302).

On the other hand, in step S1301, when the document is not being read, the main controller 401
Saves the count value of the reading counter as the number of read sheets in a memory (not shown) in the main controller 401 (S1303), and ends the process. At this time,
When the document is on standby at the document reading standby position, the document is ejected without scanning.

Next, with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 14, the copy operation restart processing after the interruption of the second embodiment will be described. First, the user sets the original document, which was being executed when the interrupt process was performed upon restart, on the original platen 102 (S1401). Whether or not the original is set can be known from the output of the original set detection sensor 108.

Next, the main controller 401 sends the AD
F101 is controlled to feed one sheet of the document set on the document table 102 (S1402), 1 is added to the fed sheet count value n (S1403), and it is saved in advance by interrupt processing (step S1303 in FIG. 13). It is determined whether or not n ≦ N by comparing with the previously read number N of read sheets (S1404). If n ≦ N, the reading unit 106 does not read the document and the document is discharged as it is (S1405), and the process returns to step S1402.

On the other hand, in step S1404, n ≦
If it is not N, the main controller 401 reads the document set at the document reading position, thereafter executes the normal copy process (S1406), and ends the process.

As described above, according to the second embodiment, in the digital copying apparatus of the type in which the next original is fed to the original reading standby position in advance, when the original is continuously fed using the ADF. , When the user presses the interrupt key to perform the interrupt copy function, the number of sheets read until then (the number of sheets that have been read) is saved, and when the copy operation before interrupt copying is restarted, the number of sheets read (the number of sheets read) Only the originals are fed until then, and the reading operation of the remaining originals is restarted. Therefore, after the interrupt copying is completed, when the restart (when restarting the copying operation before the interrupt copying), all the originals are Simply by setting it, you can automatically continue scanning from an unscanned document, improving operability when restarting. In other words, it is possible to improve the convenience and workability when using the interrupt copy function.

[Third Embodiment] In the digital copying apparatus of the third embodiment, in addition to the configuration of the first embodiment, a main controller 401, which is an interrupt copy control means, is provided with an interrupt key 20
If 9 is pressed and the aggregated image is being generated, A
By controlling the DF 101 and the reading unit 106,
An aggregate image for one sheet of transfer paper is generated, and the generated aggregate image is stored in the storage unit (primary storage unit 706 or secondary storage unit 707).
After saving to, the operation moves to the interrupt copy operation.

The basic structure and operation are the same as those of the first embodiment.
Therefore, only different parts will be described here.

FIG. 15 shows a flowchart of the interrupt processing of the third embodiment. It should be noted that here, description will be made on the assumption that the interrupt copy is pressed during generation of the aggregated image. First, the main controller 401 determines whether the aggregation is completed (S1501), and if not completed, causes the reading unit 106 to perform the reading process (S1502), and causes the image combining unit 702 to perform the reading process. Perform aggregated image generation processing (S1503), step S15.
Return to 01. That is, steps S1501 to S15 are performed until the generation of the aggregated image for one transfer sheet is completed.
Repeat 03.

On the other hand, when the aggregation is completed in step S1501, the main controller 401 uses the primary storage unit 706 to store the aggregated image generated by the image synthesis unit 702.
Alternatively, it is saved in the secondary storage unit 707 (S1504), and the process ends.

Next, with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 16, the copy operation restart processing after the interruption of the third embodiment will be described. First, the main controller 401
The U402 is made to read the aggregate image stored in the primary storage unit 706 or the secondary storage unit 707 (S16).
01), and the normal consolidation copy operation is performed (S160
2), the process ends.

As described above, according to the third embodiment, when the interrupt key is pressed and the aggregate image is being generated, the aggregate image for one sheet of transfer paper is generated and the generated aggregate image is saved. After that, the operation shifts to the interrupt copy operation. Therefore, the user can arbitrarily press the interrupt key without considering the copy function in use or grasping the state that the reading of the original image has already been completed. Even during generation, it is possible to restart the aggregate copy by reading only the remaining originals without having to check the originals for the aggregate copy that have not been copied after the interrupt copy. In other words, the convenience of using the interrupt copy function
Workability can be improved.

[Fourth Embodiment] In the digital copying apparatus of the fourth embodiment, in addition to the configuration of the first embodiment, a main controller 401, which is an interrupt copy control means, is provided with an interrupt key 20.
When 9 is pressed, if the aggregated image is being generated, the aggregated image being generated is saved, and then the interrupt copy operation is performed, and after the interrupt copy operation is completed, the saved aggregated image being generated. The image is read out and the generation of the aggregated image is restarted.

The basic structure and operation are the same as those of the first embodiment.
Therefore, only different parts will be described here.

FIG. 17 shows a flowchart of the interrupt processing of the fourth embodiment. It should be noted that here, description will be made on the assumption that the interrupt copy is pressed during generation of the aggregated image. First, the main controller 401 determines whether or not a document is currently being read (S1701). If it is being read, the main controller 401 causes the reading unit 106 to perform a reading process (S1702), and causes the image combining unit 702 to perform the reading process. Perform aggregated image generation processing (S1703), step S
Return to 1701.

On the other hand, in step S1701, when the document is not being read, the aggregate image being generated by the image combining unit 702 is stored in the primary storage unit 706 or the secondary storage unit 707.
(S1704), and the process ends.

Next, with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 18, the copy operation restart processing after the interruption of the fourth embodiment will be described. First, the main controller 401
The U402 is made to read the aggregate image which is being generated and is stored in the primary storage unit 706 or the secondary storage unit 707 (S1801), and the image of the document fed from the ADF 101 is read to perform a normal aggregate copy. The operation of is continued (S1802). After that, when the aggregate copy process ends, the process ends.

As described above, according to the fourth embodiment, when the interrupt key is pressed, if the aggregated image is being generated, the aggregated image being generated is saved, and then the interrupt copy operation is performed to interrupt. After the copy operation is completed, the stored aggregate image being generated is read and the generation of the aggregate image is restarted. Therefore, the user can arbitrarily press the interrupt key without considering the copy function in use or grasping the state that the reading of the original image has already been completed. Even during generation, it is possible to restart the aggregate copy by reading only the remaining originals without having to check the originals for the aggregate copy that have not been copied after the interrupt copy. In other words, it is possible to improve the convenience and workability when using the interrupt copy function.

[0088]

As described above, the digital copying apparatus of the present invention (Claim 1) uses the automatic document feeding means in the digital copying apparatus of the type in which the next original is fed in advance to the original reading standby position. When the user presses the interrupt key to perform the interrupt copy function while continuously feeding the originals, not only the original being read,
After reading the original at the original reading standby position, saving the read image data, and then moving to the interrupt copy operation, at the restart after the interrupt copy is completed (when restarting the copy operation before the interrupt copy) To
The user can continue the reading operation by resetting only the original on the original table, and the operability at the restart is improved. In other words, it is possible to improve the convenience and workability when using the interrupt copy function.

The digital copying apparatus of the present invention (Claim 2) is a digital copying apparatus of the type in which the next original is fed to the original reading standby position in advance, and the original is continuously fed using automatic original feeding means. If the user presses the interrupt key to perform the interrupt copy function during feeding, the number of pages read up to that point is saved, and when the copy operation before interrupt copy is restarted, the number of originals that can be read is reached. After the interrupt copy is completed, it is restarted (when restarting the copy operation before the interrupt copy) in order to restart the reading operation of the remaining documents
In addition, the user only has to reset all the originals, and the originals that have not been read can be automatically read, improving the operability when restarting. In other words, it is possible to improve the convenience and workability when using the interrupt copy function.

Further, in the digital copying apparatus of the present invention (claim 3), when the interrupt key is pressed and the aggregate image is being generated, the aggregate image for one transfer sheet is generated and generated. After saving the aggregated image, the operation shifts to the interrupt copy operation, so that the user does not need to consider the copy function in use or grasp the state that the reading of the original image has already been completed, and the user can arbitrarily press the interrupt key. It can be pressed, and in that case, even while the aggregated image is being generated, it is possible to read only the remaining originals without checking the originals for the aggregated copy that have not been copied after the interrupt copy is completed. You can restart aggregate copy with.
In other words, it is possible to improve the convenience and workability when using the interrupt copy function.

Further, in the digital copying apparatus of the present invention (claim 4), when the interrupt key is pressed, if the aggregate image is being generated, the aggregate image being generated is saved and then the interrupt copy operation is performed. After the transition and the completion of the interrupt copy operation, the saved aggregate image being generated is read and the generation of the aggregate image is restarted, so that the user considers the copy function in use or reads the original image already. It is possible to press the interrupt key at any time without having to know the completed state. In that case, even if the aggregated image is being generated, the copy that has not finished copying after the interrupt copy has finished The aggregate copy can be resumed by reading only the remaining originals without the need to check the originals for scanning. In other words, it is possible to improve the convenience and workability when using the interrupt copy function.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a digital copying apparatus according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of an operation unit.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a display screen of a liquid crystal display of an operation unit.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a control system of the digital copying apparatus according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram showing an IPU (image processing unit).

FIG. 6 is a timing chart of an image signal for one page.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a detailed configuration of an image memory controller and an image memory.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a main operation of the digital copying apparatus according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a key input event process.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of interrupt processing according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of a copy operation start process after an interrupt according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart of copy processing according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart of interrupt processing according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart of a copy operation start after an interrupt according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart of interrupt processing according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a flow chart of a copy operation start after interruption according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart of interrupt processing according to the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart of the start of copy operation after interruption in the fourth embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 101 Automatic Document Feeding Unit (ADF) 106 Reading Unit 108 Document Setting Detection Sensor 117 Writing Unit 118 Developing Unit 122 Finisher 134 Double-sided Paper Feeding Unit 201 Operation Unit 202 Print Key 205 Liquid Crystal Display 206 Touch Panel 209 Interrupt Key 401 Main Controller 402 Image Processing Unit (IPU) 501 Image memory 502 Selector 507 Image memory controller 508 CPU 509 ROM 510 RAM 701 Input data selector 702 Image combining unit 703 Primary compression / expansion unit 704 Output data selector 705 Secondary compression / expansion unit 706 Primary storage unit 707 Secondary storage

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Tsuyoshi Endo 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Stock company Ricoh Co., Ltd. (72) Hisashi Ishiguro 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Stock Within Ricoh Company (72) Inventor Koichi Kanaya 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Within Ricoh Company (72) Inventor Hiroyasu Sumita 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Within Ricoh Company ( 72) Inventor Toshiya Tagawa 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Tokyo, Ota-ku, Tokyo (72) Inventor Toshifumi Harada 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Tokyo, Ota-ku, Tokyo (72) Inventor Hiroomi Motohashi 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Within Ricoh Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor, Norio Miyake 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Re In the co

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An automatic document feeder for feeding a plurality of documents placed on a document table one by one to a document reading position and feeding the next document in advance to a document reading standby position.
An image reading unit that reads an image of a document fed to the document reading position by the automatic document feeding unit, a storage unit that stores the image read by the image reading unit, and an interrupt key that requests an interrupt copy are pressed. And an interrupt copy control means for starting the interrupt copy control, the interrupt copy control means is configured such that when the interrupt key is pressed, a document waiting at the document reading standby position If there is a document on standby, it is determined whether or not there is a document on standby, the automatic document feeding means and the image reading means are controlled, the image of the document on standby is read, and the read image is stored in the storage means. After that, a digital copying machine characterized by shifting to interrupt copy operation. 2. An automatic document feeder that feeds a plurality of documents placed on a document table one by one to a document reading position, and also feeds the next document in advance to a document reading standby position.
An image reading unit that reads an image of a document fed to the document reading position by the automatic document feeding unit, a storage unit that stores the image read by the image reading unit, and an interrupt key that requests an interrupt copy are pressed. And an interrupting copy control means for starting interrupting copy control, in a digital copying apparatus, a counting means for counting the number of originals fed by the automatic original feeding means and read by the image reading means. Then, when the interrupt key is pressed, the read number storage means for storing the number of read sheets counted by the counting means and the interrupt copy operation by the interrupt copy control means are finished, and the copy operation before the interrupt copy is restarted. If you do
By controlling the automatic document feeding means and the image reading means,
A read restart control means for feeding only the originals from all the originals on the platen of the automatic original feeding means to the number of read sheets stored in the read number storage means, and then restarting the reading operation of the remaining originals; A digital copying apparatus comprising: 3. An automatic document feeding means for feeding a plurality of originals placed on a document table one by one to an original reading position, and an image of the original fed to the original reading position by the automatic original feeding means. An image reading unit for reading, an aggregate image generating unit for inputting images of a plurality of originals read by the image reading unit to generate an aggregate image for one transfer sheet, and an interrupt key for requesting an interrupt copy are pressed. Then, in a digital copying apparatus provided with an interrupt copy control means for starting interrupt copy control, a storage means for storing the aggregate image generated by the aggregate image generation means is provided, and the interrupt copy control means is provided with the interrupt When the key is pressed and the aggregated image generation means is generating the aggregated image, the automatic document feeding means and the image reading means are controlled to A digital copying apparatus characterized by generating an aggregated image for one sheet of transfer paper, storing the generated aggregated image in the storage means, and then shifting to an interrupt copy operation. 4. An automatic document feeding means for feeding a plurality of originals placed on a document table one by one to an original reading position, and an image of the original fed to the original reading position by the automatic original feeding means. An image reading unit for reading, an aggregate image generating unit for inputting images of a plurality of originals read by the image reading unit to generate an aggregate image for one transfer sheet, and an interrupt key for requesting an interrupt copy are pressed. Then, in a digital copying apparatus provided with an interrupt copy control means for starting interrupt copy control, a storage means for storing the aggregate image generated by the aggregate image generation means is provided, and the interrupt copy control means is provided with the interrupt When the key is pressed, if the aggregated image generation means is generating the aggregated image, the integrated image being generated is stored in the storage means, and then the interruption is performed. Only the copy operation is performed, and after the interrupt copy operation is completed, the aggregate image being generated and stored in the storage unit is returned to the aggregate image generating unit, and generation of the aggregate image is restarted. Digital copier.